PRESIDENT of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Sgt Anand Ramesar said yesterday that recent statements reportedly made in error by the Director of the Public Affairs Unit of the Police Service, Sharon Lee Assang were "disappointing and reckless".

The "reckless" statement was that citizens could be arrested for breach of curfew even if they were outside of their homes but within the boundary of their property.

During Tuesday's Senate sitting, National Security Minister John Sandy cleared the air stating,

"I was advised that it (the statement) was said in error and, it was sometime during the course of today's (Tuesday's) media briefing, that (it) was clarified that if you are in your compound you are not in any way breaching any law as far as the State of Emergency laws are concerned."

In the meantime Sgt Ramesar called on Commissioner of Police, Dwayne Gibbs to either answer these questions himself or have one of his deputies carry out the task.

During a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Sgt Ramesar said, "I want to say that it was a great disappointment having heard that from the Public Relations Department in the police service. I think it was one that has the capacity to antagonise a large section of the population and further widen the gap between the police and the community."

Ramesar continued, "I think the statements would have an adverse effect on the 21st Century Policing Initiative which is geared towards engendering a relationship between the community and the police because in every context the statement was reckless and the Commissioner of Police should be held responsible because he has at his disposal a legal unit and also the has the option to seek advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) office and other state agencies as he so desires."

Ramesar continued, "It should be the Commissioner of Police who should be making statements during the State of Emergency. I think it is very disappointing to have a Commissioner of Police who avoids confronting these issues and delivering the information to the membership.

"I think he has failed to realise in this police service we need somebody who leads by example and putting a civilian who appears to be very ill-prepared and unable to treat with the issue as it relates to policing. It should be done by him or his deputies."

Ramesar said, "I think this is particularly symbolic of the recent attempts to put blame on members of the second division for the criticisms that came about as a result of the fiasco surrounding the implementation of the gang legislation."