24 Figure 1 Comparison of mean annual rates of most frequent violations: July 2001 to March 2007 600 Mean annual rate 500 arrest & detention 400 Freedoms 300 Political discrimination Torture 200 Assault 100 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year In other reports, the Forum has paid particular attention to the ZRP and allegations against the police. Analysis of the data described above, indicate a very disturbing picture. 52 The findings indicate that the ZRP has changed from a generally professional force, respected for even-handedly enforcing the country’s laws, to a force used by the ruling party, Zanu-PF, to suppress all perceived opposition and retain power. The ZRP’s own reports under consideration here, is clear evidence of this contention. In the Forum’s report “Who Guards the Guards”, the police were named as torturers and police premises as places of torture and other abuses in hundreds of cases. Torture by police was often carried out by senior police officers. Since 2000, officers of the rank of sergeant or above were named as perpetrating torture in 59 cases, with constables identified in 91 cases. Harare Central Police Station was significantly associated with torture by senior police officers.53 The report determined that a combination of government, regional and international action was needed to reform the Zimbabwe police so it becomes an accountable force that offers all citizens protection under the rule of law. As the report concluded: • • • 52 53 Law enforcement agencies are a major source of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe; These agencies are being used to help the ruling party, ZANU (PF), to suppress opposition and retain power; When these agencies operate in conjunction with the army, there are often increased levels of brutality; See again “Who Guards the Guards?” fn 41. See Appendix 2 [p.44] of “Who Guards the Guards?” fn 41.