ENFORCEMENT officers must undergo human rights training courses to learn how to handle people who have been detained, a group said today.

Rights group Eliminating Deaths and Abuse In Custody Together (EDICT) said this could significantly reduce the number of deaths in custody.

“Any member who fails the training should not be recruited into any law enforcement agency handling the detention of suspects and prisoners,” Edict said in a statement today.

EDICT offered to share its knowledge and experience with enforcement agencies to improve the detention system.

The group said input from the Bar and civil society groups would aid in the drive to achieve zero deaths in custody.

EDICT said the number of custodial deaths would be drastically reduced if such measures are taken.

Earlier this year, Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah had told the Dewan Rakyat that the number of deaths in police custody had dropped by 48% to 24 cases last year, compared to 46 the previous year, after the Criminal Investigation Unit for Deaths in Custody was established.

The group said almost all deaths in custody could have been avoided if appropriate measures had been taken on time. – October 25, 2023.