JUSTICE Frank Seepersad has again suggested Parliament enact legislative reforms to ensure police officers are personally disciplined and made financially accountable when they unlawfully arrest, detain and prosecute citizens.

The judge did so on Tuesday after ruling in favour of a man who brought a claim against the State for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment during what the judge described as arbitrary and lawless conduct by a police officer.

At the close of evidence in the one-day trial, Justice Seepersad awarded $75,000 in general damages and $25,000 in exemplary damages to claimant Jawanza Simmons. The State was also directed to bear his legal costs. The defendants were the Office of the Attorney General and PC Cleon Smith.