THE actions of the police officers who raided the offices of the Newsday newspaper on Thursday were in keeping with proper procedure and protocol, according to public information officer of the Police Service Sgt Wayne Mystar.

He said their actions should not be seen as an attack on press freedom.

Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, nine police officers attached to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB), led by Senior Supt Solomon Koon Koon, executed a warrant and searched the desk and computer of senior political reporter Andre Bagoo.

The search was in respect to an article he wrote on December 20, 2011, involving a row between Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon and deputy chairman Gladys Gafoor.

Two hours later, the police were seen leaving Newsday with a computer used by Bagoo in their search for information about the sources he used to write his story. Police also went to Bagoo's home and seized his personal computer.

Speaking yesterday at the daily press briefing at the Police Administration Building at Sackville Street, Port of Spain, Mystar said members of the media and, by extension, the public should not jump to any conclusions surrounding the officers' actions.

"Let us not jump to conclusions. As I said before, I am not privy to all the facts, but as I am almost certain that police officers acted professional(ly) in their manner and would have followed proper procedure and protocol in relation to that incident," Mystar said.

The public information officer added he wished not to make "any special comment" on the issue.

"What I want to say is that the TTPS recognises the role of the media. We want to continue to maintain a good relationship with the media. That is a matter of investigation by the police and we await the results of that investigations," Mystar said.

Head of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Gillian Lucky said the Authority will be investigating the matter, "especially in light of allegations made and stated in public domain".

"We are not jumping to any conclusions, as we must keep an open mind. The police do have the power as long as they are exercised within the parameters of the law," Lucky said in a telephone interview, adding that the police's actions should not be seen in isolation, "but assessed in light of the particular circumstance".