The Ministry of Home Affairs has said stakeholders have identified a number of criminal ‘hot spots’ and have advised the police to find an appropriate response to address the recent spike in armed robberies and other violent crime.
According to a ministry press release, a presentation at a recent joint meeting with policy analysts from the ministry officials, senior management staff of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and representatives from the Crime and Social Observatory indicated that police were in a win or lose battle against crime in ‘A’ Division. Georgetown forms part of ‘A’ Division.
Based on evidence the presentation identified certain ‘hot spots’ in the city and other areas where crime can be anticipated and where, from an operational perspective, police should deploy its ranks and moveable assets to effectively deal with potential criminal threats.
At the close of the session, “there could not have been a clearer message to the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force particularly to the Commissioner of Police (ag), Deputy Commissioner, Law Enforcement, Assistant Commissioner Operations and the Commanders of all “A” Divisions” where crime-fighting energies need to be focused, the press release said. The ministry then charged the acting police commissioner to use the session to inform and implement an “appropriate operational posture” to confront crime.
Further, the commissioner, with the support of the Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement, Assistant Commissioner Operations and particularly the Commander of ‘A’ Division, has been advised to inform the public about actions police are employing to bring the situation under control.
