MELAKA: Police personnel must adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) on lockup management to prevent custodial deaths, says Bukit Aman.
Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) director Comm Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad said those responsible for managing and investigating detainees must take note of this.
“There were 25 deaths in police custody last year and most of the victims were drug addicts with underlying health complications.
“The cause of death for others are still pending,” he said after witnessing the handing-over ceremony between outgoing Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zainol Samah and Senior Asst Comm Datuk Md Nazri Zawawi at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
SAC Md Nazri has assumed the post of acting Melaka police chief.
Comm Azri said custodial deaths showed a decline since such cases were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Unit on Deaths in Custody under the purview of JIPS.
“Custodial death cases are no longer being handled by the investigating officer at the district police headquarters or the lockups where the incident was reported since the unit was set up in 2022,” he added.
Comm Azri said 33 custodial deaths were recorded in 2020 and 46 in 2021, dropping to 22 cases in 2022.
He also said a total of 147 police personnel across the country were dismissed for misconduct last year, with 64 losing their jobs due to drug-related offences, 56 for breaches related to integrity, 24 following criminal convictions and three for corruption.
He also revealed that two officers, one with the rank of superintendent, were demoted for engaging in illicit relationships and practising polygamy.
Comm Azri added that 1,957 disciplinary investigation and 1,373 disciplinary inquiry files were opened between January and November last year with a total of 1,212 police personnel subjected to disciplinary action, an increase of 26 compared to 1,238 in 2023.
