By Chantalé Fletcher
COMMISSIONER of Police Gary Griffith says action will be taken where necessary upon persons who act in a manner that leads to violence and threats.
In a release on Thursday, the COP highlighted that the recent upsurge in the belief that persons can make veiled or actual threats and incite others to violence, particularly through an expression of themselves on social media or otherwise.
Griffith noted of reports from public officials, particularly from both sides of the Parliamentary floor of such threatening conduct.
“Whilst citizens have a constitutional right to freedom of expression and speech, such rights cannot be exercised in an irresponsible manner, which infringe on the rights of others, including public officials,” he said.
The COP said such conduct which threatens, incites, and or encourages others to act in a manner that can lead to violence, will not be tolerated and such persons will be made to face the full brunt of the law.
Griffith reminded the public that the above-described threats can constitute an offence of harassment as set out at Section 30A and 30B of the Offences Against the Person Act, Chap 11:08.
Under 30A of the Offences Against the Person Act states, “A person who pursues a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another and which he knows or ought reasonably to know amounts to harassment of the other, is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2,000 and to imprisonment for six months”.
However, according Section 30B of the Offences Against the Person Act states: “A person who is accused of conduct which would constitute an offence under section 30A and which causes the other person to fear that violence will be used against him, and the person whose course of conduct is in question knows or ought to know that his conduct will cause the other person so to fear, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $10,000 and to imprisonment for five years or, on summary conviction, to a fine of $5,000 and to imprisonment for six months.”
In addition, Griffith explained that these persons may be held liable under the Accessories and Abettors Act, Chap 10:02 which states:
“Any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of any indictable offence may be indicted, tried and punished as a principal offender.”
Commissioner Griffith said the Cyber Crime Unit will be monitoring social media for persons intent on committing such offences and they will be detained and the requisite charges laid where applicable.
