Auxiliary police proposed at Palace of Justice to address shortage

According to Putrajaya police chief, ACP Rosly Hassan, the proposal will be submitted to the relevant authorities this week, following discussions at a closed-door briefing session in conjunction with the visit of Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh to the Putrajaya police headquarters (IPD) today.

He said the position of 'court policemen' did not exist anymore, and that Putrajaya IPD personnel currently stationed at the Palace of Justice courts were merely helping out.

"Before this, eight policemen served in the various courts located in the Palace of Justice, and when the number was no longer sufficient, it was increased to 11. The addition involved members from the narcotics and commercial crime departments, who have had to work at the court," he told reporters here.

According to Rosly, on average, each courtroom in the Palace of Justice requires at least two policemen to escort accused persons, ensure the public complied with court regulations and oversee posting of bail.

"Currently, the 11 policemen on duty at the Palace of Justice have to divide the work at more than one court room," he said, adding that the Palace of Justice required more than 20 policemen.

Rosly said a lack of policemen at the Palace of Justice would delay many processes, ultimately resulting in accused persons not being able to be sent to prison on the same day.

This had led to the accused persons being held at the Putrajaya IPD lock-up overnight, and only sent to prison, the following day, he said.