How should Good Samaritans be treated by the Police? - factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 26, 2016
The Union Government released the Good Samaritan Guidelines last year. It has now released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed while dealing with the Good Samaritans. The Superintendent of Police (SP) should ensure that these guidelines are implemented in their jurisdiction.
The Union Government had in May 2015 notified guidelines for the protection of Good Samaritans. This was a result of the Supreme Court directions in October 2014. Now the Central Government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the examination of Good Samaritans by the Police or during trial. In essence, the SOP details how the Police should treat the Good Samaritans.
The Good Samaritan to be treated respectfully
The SOP includes the following key points.
If the Good Samaritan chooses to be a witness
The SOP also include the following key points to be followed by the Police while examining the Good Samaritan who chooses to be a witness
The government has put the onus on The Superintendent of Police (SP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to ensure that all the above mentioned procedures are implemented throughout their respective jurisdiction.