Allegations of police misconduct have dropped for the third year in a row, according to a report released by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The authority specialises in investigating complaints and grievances related to abuse, use of excessive force and torture by officers and public security forces.
In 2024, a total of 39 complaints were received by the government watchdog.
According to SIU head and Acting Advocate General Mohamed Al Hazza’a, reports received and probed by the unit have decreased by a whopping 50 per cent over the last five years and by 87pc since the organisation was founded in 2012.
The GDN last year reported that the rate has fallen from 136 in 2017, to 108 in 2012, 80 in 2019, 67 in 2020 and 2021, 61 in 2022 and 45 in 2023.
The 39 complaints involved 51 individuals, 35 of whom were Bahraini and 16 were of other nationalities.
Only one of the plaintiffs was a woman, and eight were under the age of 18.
Seven of these reports made it to a courtroom, two going to criminal court and five to military court or the Interior Ministry’s disciplinary department – with all the cases ending up in a guilty verdict.
Both police officers who were tried in the Lower Criminal Court were found guilty in two separate cases – one was sentenced to three months in prison for assault, and another to six months for causing unintentional harm to someone else’s physical well-being.
After plaintiffs were interviewed by the SIU, 10 were referred to forensic medicine and 17 for psychological support.
The unit also spoke to 16 witnesses in police misconduct cases.
As for alleged perpetrators, 24 individuals were interrogated along with 30 additional suspects.
Following the complaints, the SIU’s Judicial Police Division conducted 70 inquiries and issued 548 decisions.
Six public security personnel received disciplinary sanctions from Military Court and the Interior Ministry. Sanctions included reprimand, warnings, postponement of promotion or even termination.
Nineteen complaints of misconduct came from the Public Prosecution, while the rest were from the SIU, the ombudsman’s office, Interior Ministry or the victims themselves.
The Victims and Witnesses Affairs Division dealt with 32 cases last year – they communicated with victims and families and informed them of the legal procedures taken in 16 cases, while protection was requested in the 16 others.
The SIU prepared 12 reports in response to requests from local and international organisations in 2024.
“Over the past 13 years, SIU has carried out its work with utmost dedication and professionalism, adhering to relevant international standards,” Mr Al Haza’a said.
“The SIU was established to enhance transparency, accountability, and the prompt administration of justice in cases related to human rights violations.
“It has demonstrated its essential role in promoting human rights by acting as an independent judicial authority that effectively investigates and documents allegations of crimes involving torture or ill-treatment.
“This has significantly contributed to a continuous decline in the rate of such crimes, which has decreased by approximately 87pc.”
The SIU has made it easy and accessible to lodge complaints by simply filling out a form on website www.siu.gov.bh.
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