• Police to review security to non-VIPs who party and shop with cops in tow as posse 

The Sri Lanka Police has identified that certain persons, who were provided with security based on threat assessments conducted by the department, are misusing the security and police personnel to portray themselves as very important persons (VIPs).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Attorney Nihal Thalduwa said that such conduct could be harmful to the particular person who has a threat as well as to police officers who are deployed for his/her security. Thalduwa also said that the Police has warned those who have been noted as displaying such behaviour not to behave in such a manner, and asked the deployed officers to keep them informed about guidelines and measures that they should follow.

“Security is provided to those who are not considered VIPs or VVIPs after a security assessment conducted by the Police, if someone has informed the Police that they have such a threat. After the assessment, we identify the threat level, according to which we decide what measures should be taken. If someone is identified with death threats, we will deploy police officers to protect him/her. Otherwise, if someone is with a minor security threat, we will ask the police personnel to be attentive,” he said.

Thalduwa said that some times, those people who are with permanently assigned police personnel are misusing the security that they have been given, and behave in a reckless manner with the intention of showing themselves off as VIPs. “Some attend parties and shop with those police personnel, even when they are asked to be careful about their security. When they behave in that manner, everyone would notice this abnormal behaviour, and sometimes they could receive more threats. On the other hand, we are spending time, labour, and money for this, and it could be in vain,” he added.

In this context, the Police is going to review the security provided to non-VIPs and to conduct a security assessment in order to reach a final decision in this regard, he said.