I am NOT against the police, nor especially the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). They have at most times a thankless job and with the seemingly (stats will tell me I am wrong I suspect) increase in crimes with deadly weapons, they are at most times ill equipped to deal with it.

When they apprehend anyone now it is risky. They are normally unarmed but their suspect may pull a loaded gun on them making them more than a little nervous. I don’t blame them.

However, it is my job as an Editor (I am NOT a reporter) of a media publication and when I learn from the public something is wrong I am going to publish it. However, an Editorial piece is an opinion. It is usually my own but there are occasions when I present someone else’s. I will also present the ‘popular’ opinion. I will always apologise when I am wrong and will always publish an opposite view even when I vehemently disagree with it.

One of our readers sent me a photograph of a police road barrier (unmanned) at the entrance to Bodden Town that had been put in place yesterday around noon. I suspect you have seen plenty of them from time to time.

The traffic Law says:

“116. (1) For the purpose of enforcing this Law or regulations, a constable may erect on a road, whether during the day or night a road block or barrier, at which all vehicles shall be required to stop.

“(2) The approach to a road block shall be identified –

“(a) during the daytime, by not less than two police notices or signposts erected at a suitable distance from the road block or barrier, facing on coming traffic; and …”

The photograph (Photo: RM) clearly shows only ONE notice. I am scratching my head to try and remember if I have ever seen TWO notices.

I remember an altercation with two police officers some years ago who had placed such a barrier across the road just before the entrance to my house stopping me from entering my driveway just a few feet away.

The reason for this I learnt was to stop persons entering Dog City as there was a police raid going on there.

I explained to the officers I needed to go into my driveway that they could clearly see. They told me I could not as their superior had told them no one was to go past the barrier.

I proceeded to tell them how ridiculous that was as my house was a few feet away and I had no intention to go into Dog City. I also told them the barrier they had placed was actually on my property and they hadn’t obtained my permission or my wife’s to erect it there. You see, from the boundary of our land my wife granted a Vehicular Right of Way to the owner of the property behind us for the tenants of his apartment block to use. She certainly wishes she hadn’t done that but that is another story.

Now this goes back some years but even then TWO police notices should have been placed but I didn’t know then about the law and obviously neither did the two officers. The fact these officers would not use their own common sense in this situation could have turned ugly as I was very annoyed. I do get ‘mad’ when I see sheer stupidity from persons who obviously like to exert a form of authority and show signs they are relishing in it.

Luckily at that time I owned the television station (CITN/Cayman27) and I had the Commissioner’s private tel. number and it was only then when I told them I was going to call it they relented and allowed me through.

The Freedom I am referring to in my headline is to do with my Editorial on Freedom of Information and the seemingly complete and utter disdain by the RCIPS to deal with it as required under the law.

Another of our readers told me it is due to the “traditional police mistrust of the FOI”. The reader also made the point why does FOI requests have to have a high ranking police officer deal with them? Why shouldn’t it be a civilian responsibility?

A very good question. I learnt that way back in 2008 when the FOI came into being there had been plans to set this up as part of an internal news/information stream. It got shelved probably due to lack of funds.

My point in all this is if the police want to make the public obey all the laws they should set the example and not be the ones we report on as breaking them. That they do not even respond to this criticism when it is pointed out also speaks volumes.