Dear Editor,
The Acting Police Commissioner, is responding to an article in yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek on page two, under the caption `Region One education officials investigate strip-searching of female students’ with the strap line `-in presence of male police’.
Ranks at Acquero Police Station, received a report from the School Welfare Officer about 18:15h on Tuesday 13th September, 2016 to the effect that a sum of money, property of the Matron of the Dormitory, of Santa Rosa Secondary School, was missing or allegedly stolen.
The Subordinate Officer in-Charge and a Constable accompanied the School Welfare Officer to the dormitory where the children’s bags were searched by the School Welfare Officer. However, no money was found.
At this time, the School Welfare Officer proposed and insisted to conduct a search on each child but the Subordinate Officer objected and indicated that it would be improper in the circumstances for the police to sanction this and he and the Constable left the school.
The Subordinate Officer has stated that he later learnt that the children were searched by the School Welfare Officer.
Yours faithfully,
Jairam Ramlakhan
Superintendent
Public Relations and Press Officer