Head of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and host of the Beyond the Tape Programme Snr Supt Roger Alexander has taken issue with remarks made by Independent Senator, Dr Paul Richards, during a Joint Select Committee of Parliament.
During the Parliamentary JSC on Wednesday, Richards raised concerns to Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher over Alexander’s statements on the show which run contrary to messaging from the police executive.
Richards said: “The police leadership says one thing about gangs, the show is saying, ‘We giving the gangs a bligh.’
“So is there a mandate for that show and does the show take instruction and policy from the police leadership?
“Because very often I see contradictory information from the police leadership and what I see on that show.”
In her response to Richards’ questions Harewood-Christopher said she was not pleased with some of the views expressed by Alexander as host of the Beyond the Tape show and said it was being reviewed.
Alexander, according to a CNC3 report this morning, said he was sent video clips of the sitting on Wednesday afternoon and took issue with Richards’ remarks.
He denied that he made any statements which suggested that gangs were being excused by the police and called on Richards to correct the remarks publicly.
“I have never on or off record made a statement that the TTPS which I represent giving gangs Bligh and if so produce to me where I said that and don’t use Artificial Intelligence to doctor it,” Alexander said.
“That seems to be a dream that he had while asleep and came to fruition in his mind when he woke up. Parliamentarians must stop hiding behind Parliamentary privilege and making statements erroneous about citizens that can adversely affect their futures.”
Alexander said, “If by giving the gangs a ‘bligh’ he means I took guns off the street well then hey he’s right about that.”