Bdos: Unlawful search and seizure

Is Barbados becoming a police state? This report seems to suggest just that.

THE police Force called it a success.

An estimated 200 armed officers descended on The Pine, St Michael community at dawn on Saturday, cordoned off every entrance and subsequently carried out searches of homes, cars, and on residents.

According to Inspector Antonio Forte, officer in charge of a joint police and Defence Force exercise, the Police Force was happy with the execution and similar operations would be carried out in other problem areas as part of police efforts to combat criminal activity.

He said the operation, which executed warrants at various houses looking for drugs, guns and stolen items, had received the encouragement of law-abiding citizens in The Pine.

But the legality of the exercise has come in for scrutiny from some legal eyes.