Report Abuse

Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho is calling on the public to lodge complaints at any Police station if they have issues against his officers.

Mr Qiliho made the call following concerns raised by the Haus of Khameleon director, June White, who claimed that a high number of transgender sex workers were being abused by Police officers.

He has therefore called on the organisation and the general public to use the available platforms, whether it be through the chief officers, Divisional Police Commanders or officers in charge to report any issues they faced with Police officers.

“As an organisation, we have an open door policy if organisations have issues or complaints against Police officers and we have held meetings with the Haus of Khameleon and reiterated this also with them,” the commissioner said.

Abuse Claims

White claimed that she had been made aware of the issues members of the transgender community were facing with sex workers.

“Some Policemen abuse them with impunity because sex workers fear arrest or further abuse for reporting these crimes,” White said.

“It was difficult for sex workers to seek criminal justice as many Police officers are allegedly partaking in sexual and violent abuse.

“We face a lot of violence from the Police. If the Police decriminalised sex work, it would mean that there would be lesser Police abuse.”

White also claimed that officers would not take them seriously while lodging a report of any crime at any station.

“Sex workers have been dumped and dropped at a different location after being abused by Police officers. This was the current reality for most sex workers.”

White said a latest trend too was that some officers would demand money from the clients first before picking up girls.

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