Police officers trained to better effect arrest within norms required |30 March 2022

After making headlines recently in regard to certain arrests which some say were not up to standard and concerns about excessive use of force by officers, the police department has started a four-day ‘training of trainers’ sessions to empower its officers to better effect arrest within norms required.

The trainings being held at the Seychelles Police Academy, Pointe Larue, are being conducted by the deputy commissioner of Police, Ron Bonnelame.

After the training, the eleven police officers are expected to train other officers on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, on the proper way to make an arrest.

Deputy Commissioner Bonnelame said that the Seychelles police has no national standard for arrest in place as most of the police officers have been trained by different organisations on how to make an arrest, which can be observed when they go out in groups to perform the task. He added that he has localised his vast experience gained as an instructor in the British Army and the British Police into a national standardised procedure which will allow police officers to make an arrest in the same manner.

He noted that by having a national standard makes it easier to explain the manner of the arrest made in court.

During the four-day training session which started on Monday at the Dojo gymnasium, Roche Caiman, the police trainers are learning how to communicate with the public before an arrest is made, how to deal with a conflict in line with legal powers and policies to take action, the use and appropriate moment for the use of the police baton and on how to handcuff a person who cooperates, a person who cooperates but can kick off any time and a person who is violently resisting arrest. They are also learning unarmed defence in relation to eventualities that may occur while making an arrest.

Deputy Police Commissioner Bonnelame said that the trainers will have to undergo refresher training courses in the domain every two years while other police officers will do theirs on a yearly basis.

He noted that the police have received a batch of utility belts and which some police officers have been assigned to wear on duty.

He stated that in the near future most of the police officers will be wearing such belt on duty.  

With regard to the use of force during an arrest, deputy Police Commissioner Bonnelame called on the public to cooperate and to follow the instructions of the police (instructed to make the arrest) and further not to resist arrest, especially in a violent manner, to avoid use of force.

He noted that use of force is a last resort used by the police in uncooperative instances.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of a practical session yesterday.

Patrick Joubert