| – maintain that serious crime is decreasing In the face of heavy criticism over the recent spike in criminal activity, the Guyana Police Force has announced a 19% decrease in serious crimes at the end of April this year, relative to the same period last year.(Above) Police officers with their trainers in Miami, Florida, USA.(Below) The police say there will be additional manpower deployment and increased patrols.Recent activities by criminals have created some unease throughout most of Guyana, especially as the country prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence.Chief among those who have been expressing concerns are the Georgetown, Berbice and Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce.The Chambers had stated that the “escalating” crime rate could place a damper on investment.The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) last week stated that it is extremely concerned about the increase in armed robberies and violent crimes being perpetrated on members of the business community and the country as a whole.The Berbice and Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce in a joint press statement had criticized the current government’s approach to the spike in criminal activities, describing the government as powerless, ineffectual, and out of its league.But the police are maintaining that the perception of steeply rising criminal activity is not a true reflection of the current situation.In a carefully worded statement issued yesterday, the police announced that there were decreases in almost all the categories of serious crimes.According to the Force, statistics up to a week ago show that there was a nine percent reduction in reports of murder; a nine percent decrease in gun-related robberies; and an eight percent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used by the perpetrators.It also announced a 38 percent decrease in robberies with violence; a similar percentage decrease in robberies with aggravation; an 18 percent decrease in rape; and a 22 percent decrease in break and enter and larceny.The Guyana Police Force noted that the reports of serious crimes made last month were 32 percent less than those made the previous month, pointing to a decrease of criminal activity, despite recent reports of sensational news items on high profile acts of crime.“The slowing down of the crime rates is based on several initiatives taken by the Government and the Guyana Police Force to manage the crime situation. Highlights of these are capacity building in the Criminal Investigation Department that is now manifested in perpetrators of high profile crimes being arrested within two to three days of their occurrence,” the police force stated.“That situation coupled with the Social Crime Prevention Programme and our anti-crime patrol systems as well as Government policy initiatives are developing the public trust and reducing the fear of crime in the Guyanese society,” it added.The Force is also pointing to its partnership programmes with civil society organisations and collaboration with local and foreign law enforcement agencies which have served to strengthen its capacity. It said that the continuous exposure of its ranks to training both locally and internationally has served to develop the Force’s ability to deliver at the frontline level, at management level and at leadership level.At the moment, 12 Assistant Superintendents of Police are attached to the Dade County Police, Miami, for a period of three weeks. This training is likely to expose them to a First World approach on designing tactics and delivering on frontline functions.The police said that so far for this year, 33 of its members have received training overseas in various aspects of law enforcement, inclusive of a three-month Course in Cyber Crime in India, a three-month Course in Advanced Fingerprint Technology also in India, and an Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Course in Russia.Locally, another batch of 34 new entrants to the Criminal Investigation Department has completed a six-week training programme.This is in addition to 24 ranks who completed an Intelligence Gathering and Analysis Course, 20 ranks who participated in a Narcotics Investigators Course, and another 35 who attended a programme on National Protocols for Child Advocacy Centres Multi-disciplinary Teams.But not all are impressed by these announcements.According to the GCCI, it is extremely disturbing that all the support over the years, from both local and international agencies, seems to have done very little to improve the overall effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force in securing the nation.The GCCI said that clearly, there is an urgent need for a national discussion on the long term capacity of the Force to address the level of crime in Guyana, starting with an increase in foot patrols.The Chamber said that robberies such as those committed on the Princess Hotel Casino and numerous other businesses across the country continue to be documented in the daily newspapers which are regularly viewed by intended overseas guests.The GCCI said that these incidents will loom like a large cloud over the Independence parades and related activities. They could deter visitors from coming to participate in the upcoming celebrations.There are concerns that the government-initiated “Operation Dragnet” seems to have been just a public relations gimmick designed to gloss over what many had deemed an ineffective crime fighting strategy.“We are not seeing any evidence of “Operation Dragnet”. Maybe they just wanted to make people feel safe with words rather than action,” one observer pointed out.The Guyana Police Force, for its part is assuring that with 60 new recruits recently graduated from the Felix Austin Police College adding to the 287 who graduated in February this year, the current crime situation is being aggressively tackled.“In preparation for increased social activities during our 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, the Guyana Police Force has planned a number of initiatives that include additional manpower deployment, particularly in tourist hotspots. All Annual Vacation Leave due to ranks will be suspended for the month.“In addition, there will be increased patrols along the East Bank Demerara corridor and other major arteries; increased collaboration with the Force’s auxiliaries and other partners; increased vigilance at all the Ports of Entry; increased Immigration deployment at the Ports for the faster processing of passengers; escorts and close-protection will be provided for VIPs; efforts to maintain traffic enforcement to prevent congestion and deal with drunk driving and speeding; and Operation Dragnet activities that benefit from Joint Services collaboration will increase,” the police said in its statement yesterday.The Guyana Police Force said it is urging members of the Guyanese society to participate in the Independence Anniversary celebrations responsibly. |
