Bahrain to set up ombudsman re police

Bahraini authorities have announced that it is in the process of setting up an independent ombudsman that would conduct investigations into "serious allegations" against the police. The news was announced by the National Commission tasked to follow up on the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), Xinhua News Agency reported. "The office will be set up outside the Interior Ministry, as a separate entity independent of the Ministry's hierarchical control,” the commission said in its statement. It further added: "The office should also promulgate and enforce police professional standards and carry out legal and sensitivity training for police officers". The new Inspector General's office will be able to receive individual or organisational complaints, protect the safety and privacy of the complainants, carry out independent investigations and have the authority to conduct disciplinary and criminal proceedings as required by International protocols. The Commission said a decree was now being drafted by external legal experts in consultation with the UK's former top counter-terrorism officer John Yates and Miami police chief John Timoney. It said progress had also been made on the creation of a code of conduct for police. It will be based on international policing codes, including the United Nations' Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the European Code of Police Ethics. "The code adopts a principles-based approach, setting out the broad duties of police officers in relation to various aspects of their work, including the use of force, respect for human dignity and maintaining the rule of law,' said govaction.bh an official government website set up to provide updates on the progress of reforms. Officials last week declared 20 BICI recommendations had already been fully or partially implemented. The Interior Minister approved on January 30 a new Code of Conduct for Bahraini Police based on various international policing codes, including the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the European Code of Police Conduct.