The Ashanti Regional Police say they are unable to make changes in the way identification parades are held because of the laws guiding the process.
Residents of the region and other security experts have decried the manner in which identification parades are held in the open, exposing victims to their vicious attackers. In some instances, people have been seen taking photographs at identification parades in Kumasi.
Ashanti regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammed Tanko however said in an interview with Kumasi based Ultimate radio, the only thing the police can do is to try as much as possible to prevent people who identify armed robbers during these parades from harm.
He says until the laws guiding the conduct of such parades are changed the process will remain as it is.
“There are laws governing these ID parades. You cannot cover the face because the law says the person identifying the suspect must touch him and take pictures for the courts.”
He blamed the existing law for the current situation and adds that even if the identification parade hides the victim, the court process is likely to expose the victim to the culprit and others during the trial process.
When asked about witness protection programmes available to such victims who come out to identify culprits, the Police PRO said, “if you are a witness in a case, we wouldn’t be following you around but if we have reason to believe you are not safe, we give you money to relocate for sometime.”
Bernard Buachi, rawgist.com
