Constitution of The BahamasIn briefSets who may remove or discipline police officers at each rank, what powers the Commissioner of Police has and may delegate, and how appeals work.
Save as provided under Article 120 of this Constitution, power to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the office of or above the rank of Assistant Commissioner in the Police Force is vested in the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission after consultation with the Prime Minister.
Except as provided in Article 120 of this Constitution, the power to remove and discipline people holding or acting in offices in the Police Force at or above the rank of Assistant Commissioner belongs to the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission after consultation with the Prime Minister.
Save as provided in Article 120 of this Constitution and paragraphs (1) and (3) of this Article, power to remove and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in office in the Police Force is vested in the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission.
Except as provided in Article 120 of this Constitution and paragraphs (1) and (3) of this Article, the power to remove and discipline people holding or acting in offices in the Police Force belongs to the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission.
The following powers are vested in the Commissioner of Police-
The Commissioner of Police has the following powers:
in respect of officer of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent, the power to administer reprimands;
for officers at or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent, the power to give reprimands (formal warnings);
in respect of Inspector, the power to exercise disciplinary control other than removal or reduction in rank; and
for Inspectors, the power to take disciplinary action other than removal from office or reduction in rank; and
in respect of officers below the rank of Inspector, the power to exercise disciplinary control including the power of removal.
for officers below the rank of Inspector, the power to take disciplinary action, including the power to remove them from office.
The Commissioner of Police may, by directions in writing, and subject to such conditions as he thinks fit, delegate to any officers of the Police Force of or above the rank of Inspector any of his powers under sub-paragraph (3)(c) of this Article other than the power of removal; but an appeal from any award of punishment by such officer shall lie to the Commissioner.
The Commissioner of Police may, by written directions and on any conditions he thinks fit, delegate (pass on) to any officer of the Police Force at or above the rank of Inspector any of his powers under sub-paragraph (3)(c) of this Article, except the power of removal. Any punishment given by an officer using delegated powers can be appealed to the Commissioner.
Parliament may by law provide that an appeal shall lie to the Governor-General from a decision of the Commissioner of Police to remove or exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in offices in the Police Force in such cases as may be prescribed by such law, and in determining any such appeal the Governor-General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission.
Parliament may by law provide that, in the cases the law prescribes, an appeal lies to the Governor-General against a decision of the Commissioner of Police to remove or discipline a person holding or acting in an office in the Police Force. In deciding such an appeal, the Governor-General must act in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission.