Police acknowledge the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) regarding a Police Safety Order (PSO) issued against a man in Central District.
In December 2024, Police received a report from a mother stating that her child had disclosed allegations of physical abuse by his father during a previous visit. At the time of the report, the child was at the father's address.
After taking the mother's statement and consulting with a supervisor, the attending officer's immediate concern was for the child's safety. As a result, Police attended the father's address and issued a PSO, enabling the child to be removed and returned to his mother. This provided a three-day period for Police to make further enquiries and for custody matters to be addressed through the Family Court.
Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett acknowledges the IPCA's findings:
"Our officers acted on the information available to them at the time, with the child's safety as their priority. While we accept that further enquiries could have been undertaken before issuing the PSO to the father, the officers' intent remained focused on the child's wellbeing."
Since this incident, Police have issued national guidance to staff regarding the use of PSOs in situations involving children. Work is also underway to update PSO policy to ensure staff consider alternative pathways where appropriate in similar circumstances.
"This was a difficult situation for those involved, and Police remain committed to continuous improvement," says Superintendent Bennett.
