Police threaten perjurers with jail
Police send a clear message that any false statement made will result in the complainant facing justice.
Brooklyn police warns complainants about perjury and prevarication when they submit statements to them.
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said people who open false cases should be dealt with as they are hampering the police in doing their work.
“A disturbing tendency has emerged recently whereby people submit false statements during investigation or where false cases are opened. The Brooklyn police want to send a clear message that this kind of criminality will not be tolerated,” she said.
Weilbach said the tendency usually occurs when people are reporting cases of motor vehicle theft.
“During investigation, the police investigating officer will always analyse a complainant’s statement and will find evidence of perjury if certain facts do not add up. For instance, in today’s times, it’s unlikely that a person who owns a cellphone can leave it in a vehicle parked outside, the same is applicable for shoppers going to the shops but leave their handbags, purses and wallets behind in their vehicles.”
Weilbach said in order for investigations to be successful, all crimes must immediately be reported to the police.
“In an effort to rule out false cases, the Brooklyn police are inspecting all vehicles when cases of theft out of motor vehicle are reported. If the vehicle has already been repaired, the police will request a receipt of such repairs. If a person lied to the police they will have to face the full force of the law.”
Weilbach said the intentional making of a false statement under oath is a very serious offence.
“People who are making themselves guilty of this are not only abusing the police to solve their own personal problems, but they are also taking police officers away from real investigations. Valuable resources are wasted and lives are even endangered,” she said.
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