Dear Editor,
‘Police’ is a good word to start a conversation with or even better to initiate an argument. Many experts both local and overseas have descended on the police positing their views in the print and electronic media and in numerous other forums. The vexed question is, how does one appraise the performance of the police?
In evaluating the department as a whole people tend to use crime rates, number of arrests and case clearance rates to measure how the police are doing. Wayne W. Bennett and Karen M. Hess in their book Management And Supervision In Law Enforcement suggest that such measures have several problems. They explain that a low crime rates does not necessarily mean a police agency is efficient and effective.
A high arrest rate does not necessarily show that the police are doing a good job. A high ratio of police officers to citizens does not necessarily mean high-quality police services. Responding quickly to calls for services does not necessarily indicate that a police agency is efficient.
Kramer and Fiedler argued that rather than looking at crime rates, number of arrests and response time, an evaluation should assess whether or not the agency is effective in fulfilling its responsibilities to the community.
They explain that when evaluating the effectiveness,efficiency and productivity of the entire department, managers must focus on their mission statement. The mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, pro-active and accountable manner. ‘To achieve this we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building safer and secure Guyana’.
Kramer and Fiedler stress that managers must consider what citizens want and expect from their protectors. Most citizens want to live in safe, orderly neighbourhoods.
The police are considered effective when they produce the perception that crime is under control. A reduction of fear is a very important measure.
Citizens’ approval or disapproval is reflected in letters of criticism or commendation, support for proposed police programmes, cooperation with incidents being investigated, public response to a single police-citizen incident or response to police-initiated surveys.
One way to assess approval or disapproval is through surveys of citizens,which can measure trends and provide positive and negative feedback on the public’s impression of law enforcement.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Seelall Persaud, the paradigm has shifted. The police are now promoting community oriented policing and problem solving policing. They are not only attempting to solve crimes in the communities but also to solve problems. Com-manders Ian Amsterdam – D division, Clifton Hicken – A
division and Brian Joseph – B division are leading the pack. Leaders of C,E,G and F divisions, despite their numerous logistical issues and concerns, must keep abreast of their equals in order to maintain a holistic approach towards crime reduction and the fear of crime.
Research has shown that whenever there is police pressure on criminals in one division they gravitate to soft locations and commit serious crimes. Hence, the need for assertive police action countrywide.
The present crime strategy is driven by the Strategic Manage-ment Plan implemented by the force. The key elements of this plan must be filtered from the apex of management to the frontline ranks in order for them to understand and appreciate where the police are, where they want to go and the strategy and tactics being used to take them there. If not done the performance of the police will be prosaic.
Do not expect an overnight change of attitude and behaviour of members of the force. Sometimes it may not be correct to measure success by weeks or months.
The challenges faced by the police are many. They defy any one-shot solution. Green shoots are emerging from the present police trust. It will bear fruit but the law enforcement officers will require tremendous support from the government and members of the communities so as to complete the crime solving triangle that is, the police, government and communities. All three sides of the triangle must be firmly in place and working in unison to achieve the desired results. To do otherwise will prevent the enforcers of the law from delivering the highest quality of service to our beloved country.
Yours faithfully
Clinton Conway
Retired Assistant
Commissioner of Police
