Policing COVID-19 in Holding Cells
Chester Williams
Another matter that the Commissioner of Police also spoke about is the control of COVID-19 in holding cells. ComPol Williams told the press that while the cell blocks were seen as crowded spaces in the past, they have put in a few controls to prevent the spread of the virus. Williams noted that despite these measures, they can only do so much to avoid overcrowding.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I visited the cell block last week and the Minister went with me. Every prisoner in the cell block was wearing a mask and that is the protocol. If a prisoner comes in and that prisoner doesn’t have a mask, we provide a mask for the prisoner that the prisoner is going to wear in the cell block. And if it is that the mask needs to be changed on a daily basis then that is done. We also try out utmost best to ensure that we do not have too many people in one cell. We have a number of cells downstairs and so we limit the number of persons in a cell to ensure that there can be social distancing. But in situations where we have to do mass detentions, like last night, then for sure there is going to be situations where the cell block would have more than what we would want in the cell block as a part of the COVID protocol but that is understandable because I cannot tell the regional commander that he must only detain so many people because of COVID and then leave the others out there to continue to torment the citizens. If it is that they do foolishness out there that the police detain them then so be it they will be detained in the cell block. We will provide P.P.E.s for them to the extent that they can protect themselves and then we go from there.”
Reporter
“But you realize that an overcrowding of a cell, you’re putting people’s lives at risk regardless if they are detained for wanted offences?”
Chester Williams
“…and having them out there running around with guns and shooting people put people’s lives even more at risk; so we have to strike a balance.”
