By The Pulseline News Desk
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has decided to obtain proposals from the Police Department on measures to address prison overcrowding, with delays in drug-related investigations and court proceedings identified as key areas requiring attention.
The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the committee held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Najith Indika.
The committee has focused particularly on procedures followed by the Police Department from the arrest of suspects in drug-related cases to the filing of cases in court, while also examining legal obstacles that could be contributing to delays in the process.
The discussions have also highlighted delays in the disposal of drug-related cases and the time taken to obtain reports from the Government Analyst. Such delays can result in suspects spending extended periods in remand custody, contributing to pressure on the country’s already overcrowded prison system.
Focus shifts from arrests to drug networks
The committee has stressed that tackling the country’s drug problem should go beyond arresting individual suspects.
It has emphasised the need for law enforcement agencies to make greater use of modern technology to identify and dismantle drug-trafficking networks, including the financial networks that facilitate the illegal drug trade.
Particular attention was drawn to the potential misuse of digital money-transfer facilities operated by telecommunications companies for drug-related transactions.
The committee has highlighted the need for appropriate regulatory mechanisms to prevent such services from being exploited by traffickers while ensuring that legitimate users are not adversely affected.
Rehabilitation as alternative to imprisonment
The committee has also discussed strengthening community-based rehabilitation programmes for people addicted to drugs, identifying rehabilitation as an alternative to imprisonment where appropriate.
Members have stressed that greater public participation was also needed in crime prevention, while existing laws should be reviewed and amended to ensure they remain relevant to current crime patterns and law-enforcement requirements.
The discussions reflect a broader approach to reducing prison overcrowding by addressing not only the number of arrests but also the factors that keep suspects and convicted persons within the prison system for extended periods.
Call for modern forensic facilities
The establishment of a modern forensic laboratory within the Police Department was also raised during the meeting.
Members have pointed out that delays in analysing scientific evidence can slow down criminal investigations and subsequently contribute to delays in court proceedings.
A stronger forensic capacity, they have said, could allow investigators to obtain scientific evidence more quickly, accelerate the completion of investigations and help courts dispose of cases without unnecessary delays.
Police welfare and investigative capacity
The committee has also turned its attention to the capacity and welfare of the Police Department, stressing the importance of improving the working conditions of police officers while strengthening their professional training and investigative skills.
The need to establish stronger mechanisms to evaluate police performance was also highlighted.
The committee is expected to consider the proposals and views obtained from the Police Department as part of efforts to identify practical measures to reduce prison overcrowding while improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system.
The discussions indicate that Parliament is increasingly looking at prison congestion as a wider justice-sector issue involving policing, investigations, forensic services, prosecution, rehabilitation and the effective functioning of the courts, rather than simply a problem of prison capacity.
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