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Tourist Police recruiting English-speaking cops
View(s):By Nadia Fazlulhaq
The Government is recruiting more English-speaking policemen with computer literacy to the Tourist Police to handle the increasing number of complaints of harassment of tourists.
Tourist Police Director Maxi Proctor said the cadre would be increased and more units set up in new tourist destinations. At present there were only two Tourist Police units in Hikkaduwa and Negombo. Another two would be set up in Mount Lavinia and Arugam Bay this month. Plans were also being made to set up police units in areas where there were inland tourist attractions, Senior Superintendent Proctor said. He said the decision was taken after a meeting with Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon and tourism officials.
The Tourist Police officers will be given a uniform, a T-shirt similar to the coast guard uniform but with the police crest on it. SSP Proctor said most of the complaints were made by European tourists.
“There are increasing complaints of harassment from beach boys, masseurs and groups in three wheelers,” he said. On Wednesday, Chillaw police arrested a 28 year-old man after he attempted to rape a 25-year-old German tourist while she was sunbathing on the beach.
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