When I write, I really hate to indulge in sensationalism or jingoism, as we are taught at journalism school. It is too facile a style to adopt and, more often than not, is too readily accepted by the reader. Yet, it is a cornerstone of every newspaper?s existence, as demonstrated by Lord Beaverbrook?s mantra, ?Get me a murder a day!? His lordship was one of Britain?s first media barons.

The prevalence of police brutality is sensational in itself, not needing any embellishment whatsoever. The fact that our dear enforcers of law and order are indulging in some of the basest and most crass examples of abuse of power is totally and utterly unacceptable. Totally and utterly, I mean it.

For our men in blue and their apologists, excuses abound. They are paid so very little, we are told. How can we expect them to behave in an exemplary way with so little incentive? Have I got news for you! I can name a dozen professions on which society depends but which are not necessarily remunerated accordingly.

Another old favourite brandished by the brutes is that being a police officer is a high-pressure job and it is only normal if that pressure boils over once in a while and scalds a detainee or even a witness. Poppycock! Last time I checked, we weren?t in Kosovo or Soweto. Bullets are hardly common currency. Thank goodness!

Admittedly, police bashing (I speak of their reputation, not their bodies), is a fashionable pursuit. Everyone wants to have a go at these symbols of authority and the resulting ill will is detrimental to the relationship that binds law-enforcers and law-abiders. Often, law-breakers reap the rewards of this antagonism. Mauritius may not qualify for the War Zone of the Year award; yet, it does happen that the police put themselves on the line.

Incursions into some of the island?s hot spots (and they can get pretty hot) can degenerate rapidly into something quite nightmarish. It should also be said that training plays an important part in the police approach to its vocation. A lot of the brutality dished out by our cops could be explained by the prevalent deontology, or lack thereof.

The escalation of the number of complaints of police brutality, from 101 in 1999 to 830 in 2003, is one of the causes of the loss of confidence and even vindictiveness felt by many Mauritians towards their ?protectors?. Moreover, it cannot be dismissed with the excuse that the police are victims of a societal trend.

The issue has become so pressing that the Peace and Justice Commision published a document entitled ?Your rights as a citizen in case of arrest? to throw a little light on exactly what the police can and can?t do to you when they bust you. This move can only improve relations between society and the police by informing the former of its rights and reminding the latter of its duties. The uproar caused by journalist Jacques Achille?s alleged beating attests to the good health of democracy in Mauritius. The message it sends out is: ?You can beat us up, but you can?t shut us up?.

Policemen are only human but let that not be an excuse, let it be a plea for more transparency and less brutality. After all, if Kaya?s death showed something, it was that there?s only so much the Mauritian population will take.