When we started iNews, we wanted to put a positive slant on our stories WHEREVER WE COULD. We felt too much negative publicity is a bad thing. We are still of that view. However, as an investigative newspaper, we have a moral duty to publish the truth, even when it hurts. I am not suggesting the other publications slant their stories in an opposite way. It is much easier, however, to make much more of the negative. Somehow, bad news travels faster.

When it comes to editorial opinions, these are mine as Editor-in-Chief or Joan Wilson’s, as Publisher. They are based on facts and an opinion is expressed. You, our readers, are invited to correspond, as you feel fit. We publish all those that meet our ethical standards whether they agree with the writer or not.

The RCIPS have come under a lot of fire recently. They have been dodging more bullets than the Cayman gangs have been firing. Unfortunately, a lot of the criticism has been justified.

There seems to be a failure in most departments and the blame has to lie at the very top of the tree. Take a look at the latest findings from the Government Internal Audit Unit (GIAU)

• Impossible to confirm how long it took RCIPS officers to arrive on the scene of almost 50% of the incidents. There was no reported record of the response times. Where the GIAU was able to review a sample of police responses to incidents only 53% were met within the required time frame.
• Ten case files processed by the PCIPS during period July 2008 and Oct 2009 did not go before the court because they were “barred by statute”.  The meaning of this is “they were not properly completed within the time frame requirement of six months.”
• In some areas the RCIPS was in breach of the Public Management and Finance Law regarding reporting requirements.
• The Auditors said, “We were informed that the lack of technical and human resources were the main causes for the non-production of quality and timeliness reports for the outputs produced.

“We also found that a number of the process owners were not fully knowledgeable of the RCIPS’ obligation to fulfill the requirements.

“The failure of the RCIPS to prepare quality and timeliness reports for comparative analysis constitutes a breach of the law [referring to the Public Management and Finance Law].”

Police Commissioner, David Baines, has certainly got a very tough job. At least, in the RCIPS response to the auditors they met their obligations and performed a public satisfaction survey. Hopefully, this survey showed the public was generally satisfied with the RCIPS. As this survey still hasn’t been made public, one can only wonder.