Bahrain is to install closed
circuit television cameras in police interview rooms in a bid
to crack down on human rights violations, it was announced on Tuesday.
“The video and audio
recording in interview rooms will be installed by August and that would help in
investigating alleged cases of mistreatment,” Public Security chief
Major-General Tariq Al Hassan told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
Announcing the progress being
made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which is looking into
allegations of abuses during anti-government demonstrations, Al Hassan said the
CCTV equipment would also be used to expose false allegations made against
officers, the Gulf Daily News reported.
An independent ombudsman is also
due to be established to look into allegations of abuse and external inspectors
would also visit detention facilities, he said.
“We have agreed on a
memorandum of understanding with the International Committee for the Red Cross
to access detention facilities to inspect them,” he was quoted as saying.
The report also added that authorities
were investigating claims by human rights groups that some detainees were
tortured at outside locations before being brought to police stations and
complaints of excessive use of tear gas.
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