The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that its Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN) has made 88 interventions into the lives of youth found engaging in anti-social behaviours, and it has embarked on three other social projects.
In a press release, the ministry said the interventions were made via the CFCN pilot project it launched on September 9, 2013 in 10 communities in police ‘A’ Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), ‘B’ Division (Berbice) and ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara).
The ministry noted that a review of the project, from its inception to October 2014, revealed that the Guyana Police Force supported by members of the religious community intervened in offences involving 46 males and 42 females between the ages of 10 and 17-years-old, who had been detained for offences such as assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, throwing missiles, simple larceny, wandering, the use of indecent language and threatening behaviour. In all cases, the youth were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of their parents/guardians they were warned and allowed to go free.
Charges were laid in two instances; in one case, the matter was dismissed after the victims offered no evidence and in the second the youth was sent to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).
The CFCN was established as a crime fighting prevention measure to deal with first-time youth offenders involving minor offences, as a pre-emptive mediation to the NOC. Since this intervention, discussions with the police force and religious leaders have resulted in three other projects being undertaken: a suicide hotline was established so that persons experiencing hardship can call to receive counselling; the GPF’s Chaplaincy has been revitalised to provide counselling to ranks who have had traumatic experiences and a liaison is now available for victims and relatives of victims of serious crimes and police that will facilitate counselling and feedback on the status of investigations.
Towards this end Pastor Patrick Doolichand was appointed to the GPF chaplaincy.
Further, in September, police in collaboration with the CFCN conducted a three-day Level 1 Community Services Chaplaincy Training Programme.
The GPF is pleased that the CFCN is now expanding its role to offer more social services to the society.
