The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Saturday launched an initiative which will see its faith network providing counselling for ranks who have had traumatic experiences and liaising with the families of victims of serious crimes.
In collaboration with the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN), the GPF formally launched two projects, chaplaincy and family liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence, at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary.
A release from the police yesterday said that the CFCN would provide chaplaincy services to members of the Guyana Police Force, particularly those who have had traumatic experiences.
“It is recognised that there are police ranks who visit crime scenes such as shooting incidents or murder where they have various experiences that may have a long term effect on them, with a resulting unnoticed pressure building up that may eventually affect them psychologically.
“Consequently, in situations where a rank or a group of ranks has been exposed to a traumatic situation it is intended to provide counselling through the CFCN in order to bring some psychological relief. Should the intervention at this level be considered not to be enough based on feedback, then higher and more in depth treatment will be sought”, the statement said.
It added that as a precursor to the chaplaincy project the GPF has appointed a Force Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Doolichand, who will be coordinating the project and others involving the CFCN.
In relation to the family liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence, the GPF said that it was recognised that in some cases the victims of serious crimes do not cooperate fully with the police investigators on issues such as giving statements, attending identification parades and attending court.
“It is therefore felt that the involvement of the religious leaders attached to the CFCN can have a positive impact by way of bringing some psychological relief to the victims in the first instance, along with giving encouragement for their cooperation with the police as well as the provision of feedback to them on the progress of the investigations into a particular matter”, the GPF said.
It added that in many instances persons are more comfortable talking to a religious leader. Further, the presence of the religious leader would serve to motivate ranks to be more professional, the force said.
Acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud in his address to the audience at the launching that included Divisional and Branch Commanders, members of the faith based organisations of the CFCN and others, explained the concepts of both projects and detailed how they should work.
The system will see the appointment of Police Community Relations Officers in each Police Division who will address not only projects of the CFCN but also the social programmes that the Force has on stream countrywide.
Persaud noted that the social intervention projects and the work to empower youths have impacted positively on the crime rate. He commended the partnership that exists between the Police Force and the CFCN and applauded the religious leaders who have been offering their services on a voluntary basis.
The acting Commissioner urged members of the Force to be professional and to give of their best in support of the initiatives. He also called on them to strive to develop their interpersonal skills as it can lead to improved police community relations. Doolichand pledged the continued support of the faith community in the development of the projects under the CFCN. He stated that some 282 members of the religious community are presently involved.
Another project between the Police Force and the CFCN, a suicide hotline where depressed persons can call to receive counselling, is expected to be initiated as soon as possible.
The release noted that the CFCN was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 12, 2013, as a pilot project for a period of six months in the ten communities in which the Community Action Component of the Citizen Security Programme was operational. These are Sophia, Agricola/McDoom, Plaisance, Buxton/Friendship, Annandale/Lusignan, Angoy’s Avenue, Overwinning/Glasgow/ Edinburgh, Port Mourant, Rosehall and Kilcoy/Chesney/Fyrish.
At the start it was a crime prevention effort intended to treat with juvenile first offenders, and involving minor offences, as a preemptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps. Following a review the initiative has been expanded.
