Death in custody: Officers must undergo training on human rights

Local NGO, Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict), has suggested that enforcement officers undergo a mandatory human rights training course.

The course, it added, must include measures on how to handle detainees to prevent any custodial deaths.

“Edict truly believes that the number of deaths in custody would be drastically reduced if such measures are implemented immediately.

“Cases of death in custody can be avoided if all parties involved in the detention of any suspect or prisoner understand their duties and obligations under the laws of the country,” it said.

The NGO stressed that any officer who fails to undergo the proposed training course should not be recruited into any law enforcement agency handling detention of suspects or prisoners.

In June, Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the number of custodial deaths dropped by 48 percent in 2022, compared to the previous year. - Mkini