The Guyana Police Force on Wednesday condemned recent allegations made by an attorney via a social media post about attempts to intimidate lawyers by recording video content of them on the grounds of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
The force said that the photograph of a member of the force with a video camera was also posted on social media.
In a statement to the press, the Guyana Police Force said it categorically rejects such allegations.
“In order to add integrity to the police’s interactions with suspects and accused persons and their attorneys-at-law it is now an accepted practice and procedure that the Guyana Police Force video records various components of these interactions which, if necessary, are used as evidence in the prosecution of offenses arising out of these investigations,” the force said.
The force said that the videoing of lawyers, with their clients, militates against allegations of violence, threats, undue influence, intimidation, hope of advantage, fear of prejudice, or any form of improper conduct on the part of members of the force during these interactions.
“… this process augurs well for the administration of justice and indeed has received the approbation of Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice,” the force said.
It further noted that in certain high-profile investigations, this process extends outside of the investigation room and records interactions between attorneys-at-law representing suspects and accused persons and their interactions with members of the Force.
“It is done in a manner that ensures that lawyer-client privilege is preserved. Indeed, the Guyana Police Force in one instance was able to rely upon this facility to expose and debunk lies told by purported alibi witnesses during a press conference held by one attorney-at-law in a very high-profile criminal case,” the force said.
The Guyana Police Force said it will continue to take advantage of technological platforms as it strives to create a fair and just environment conducive to sound investigative practices in compliance with the rule of law and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution.
Guyana Standard understands that it was attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes who raised the matter. Upon noting the force’s comments, he said, “…The use of two-legged tripods instead of the more technological standard methods of fixed cameras in police stations is clearly lost on the Guyana Police force.” 
Hughes said that CID’s “apparent necessity” to have live mobile tripods manned by police officers operating in the immediate vicinity of attorneys and their clients speaks to the purpose for which the presence of a mobile human camera tripod is deployed. He noted that human police officer as a mobile camera is indeed a “new technological platform.”
