The annual Police Conference this year committed to addressing concerns about corruption in the Guyana Police Force, to improving the relationship between the force and members of the communities they serve and to instituting much anticipated reforms.
The conference was held between Thursday March 14 and Saturday March 16, 2013 and it was attended by 176 Officers under the theme “Advancing institutional modernization to secure our communities through enhanced professionalism, partnership, strategic management and effective leadership”.
The conference saw discussions being held with significant participation among officers on a number of issues related to the enhancement of police operational capabilities, welfare and the improvement of service delivery in the areas of crime investigation, financial accountability, cyber crime, Police Division management concerns, domestic violence, noise nuisance, piracy, violence in schools police corruption and human rights.
According to a statement from the Conference, Groups were appointed during the Conference which discussed as priority the issues of narco-trafficking, public trust and confidence, regional and international cooperation, police reform, policing the interior, and police corruption.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell, in his address to Conference said that despite the challenges the Guyana Police Force had generally done well during 2012 and gave the assurance that the police will continue to work tirelessly in the execution of its mandate.
According to the statement, he lamented the fact that corruption and lack of confidence in the police by the public continue to negatively impact on the image of the Force and its efforts in the fight against crime and sounded a warning to deviant members of the Force. He at the same time assured that the Police Force has many dedicated and professional ranks who proudly continue to offer service and protection to the communities.
The acting Commissioner expressed deep appreciation for the assistance being given to the police by members of the various Community Policing Groups on a voluntary basis and the Neighbourhood Police personnel in the fight against crime.
The statement said Brumell expressed the police concern over the armed robberies committed on miners and mining camps and the disorderly murders occurring in the gold mining areas of the interior.
He outlined some of the activities the force is undertaking to police the interior in view of the prevailing developmental and economic activities and the concomitant shift in population in the policing Division.
The conference also focused in great detail on the Force’s Strategic Plan 2013-2017, the continuing institutional modernization and reform under the Citizen Security Programme, threats to the security of the state, global warming and its implications, the enhancement of training both local and overseas in order to enhance service delivery, crime reduction and traffic management, response to reports of crime and other incidents.
