The Guyana Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths to Affidavits Association joins with the Magistrates’ Association to call for adequate security arrangements to be included as an integral part of the terms of employment in the judiciary.

In a press release the association said it is particularly concerned about the issue in the light of the attack on Magistrate Nigel Hawke and his wife, both of whom are judicial operatives. The group said magistrates and judges serve in high-risk positions and because they often hand down court decisions that do not necessarily find favour with offenders they are subject to personal attacks or threats and abuse that may jeopardise their safety as well as the safety of their families. Further, criminals now make use of sophisticated weaponry requiring extraordinary response from the state authorities in order to save lives and maintain peace.

The association said although the significance of community policing cannot be overemphasised, security arrangements for magistrates, judges and other persons in high seats of power “ought to be beefed up as a matter of priority.”