Belo said the inquiry would include examination of the behaviour of community police allegedly going above their mandate of identifying and preventing conflict. Community police are not allowed to use force, he said.

He said he was “not satisfied” with the alleged behaviour, and that any use of violence by community police towards citizens was a crime that would be dealt with “under legal channels.”

The comments come as Sancho Xavier, Research Coordinator with security watchdog Fundasaun Mahein, told the Indpendente that he questioned why community police were carrying batons, and if they had been issued by the national police. In Sunday’s attack the injured man was struck with a baton.

Belo confirmed police batons had not been issued to community police officers but stressed a number of community police were not adequately “aware” of their jobs.

He also said community police played an important peace-keeping role in the community and sought to ensure they could continue their job.

Belo said the investigation was on-going.