Senior Counsel and Independent Senator, Dana Seetahal, has taken issue with the pace at which police are proceeding with the investigation into the discovery of exhibits at the home of their colleagues two weeks ago.

Speaking with the Express yesterday, a vocal Seetahal said: ’I feel strongly about this matter. Why was the officer not charged, why are investigations taking so long?’

On August 13, a corporal was released from police custody pending investigations, after a quantity of packaged narcotics used in court cases was found at his home.

The officer, who has 16 years service, was released the following day by Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) officers. The officers had found the narcotics, which were used in previous cases that had been completed, after receiving information. The exhibits were ordered destroyed by various magistrates following completion of the cases.

Seetahal said yesterday that although there is nothing enshrined in the Constitution to address the matter, the conduct and procedures by which police officers should abide can be found in their Standing Orders.

’There is a law which governs the service, which is the Standing Orders, and this delegates the legislation of the Police Service. The orders specifically outline what should be done with regards to courtroom exhibits,’ Seetahal said.

Speaking generally, Seetahal said if a search is conducted at the home of any officer and there is evidence that he has drugs in his home, having been ordered to destroy the exhibits, then ’I would think the drugs are no longer needed and should be returned to the station’.

’There is a Drug Movement Register and officers should be making use of this,’ Seetahal said.

Saying it is obvious the procedure to deal with drugs was not followed and questions over ’why whoever was in charge did not have proper supervision’ could be asked, Seetahal said the nagging question remains about what is going to be done now.

’Whether the drugs were secured or not is not the issue. At the end of the day, the drugs were ordered destroyed, you cannot have officers taking exhibits, especially drugs, home. Why do you think the exhibits are stored at the station, it is to protect its integrity,’ she said.