Privacy and Confidentiality

 Privacy and Confidentiality 

Police Officers will only access, use and/or disclose confidential information if required and shall comply with all relevant legislation and Belize Police Department policy and procedures governing gathering, retention, use, and disclosure of information. 

i. A Police Officer shall not knowingly, while an investigation is ongoing, make any comment in public or otherwise, that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of such investigation.

 ii. The Department’s Public Relation officer must be utilized to make public statements unless it is extremely unavoidable

Accessing Information and Confidentiality 

Members shall not access, use or disclose any information relating to the BPD, for example, criminal records, vehicle details, personnel details, intelligence details, confidential material or information obtained in the course of duties or disclose the contents of any official documents obtained in the course of duties. Members must ensure that confidential, private, and sensitive information is handled in accordance with our Department’s Information Policy and in line with good practices and that the integrity of such information is maintained at all times. Unless specifically authorized by law or direction from a supervisor, members must not access or disclose any information other than is legitimately required to discharge your duties.

Media Releases 

This section is to be read in conjunction and adherence with the BPD Media Policy. Members are to be mindful of their legal obligations when releasing information to the media. Members are not to comment on issues where they have no specific knowledge or have no authority. Where members are approached by the media to make a comment, obtain details of an incident or a BPD policy position, details should be taken and the request referred to the Police Public Relations Office. Any media release should be compiled in liaison with the Public Relations Officer and should consider: 

i. Protection of individual rights to privacy; 

ii. Rights of victims of crime and their families; 

iii. The rights of an accused person to a fair trial; 

iv. Confidentiality, security, and operational effectiveness of policing activities; and 

v. His appropriateness of commenting on policy issues.