In response to a call on Monday by former President Donald Ramotar for the army to get involved in the crime fight, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday maintained that results are being seen and even further progress is expected in the future.
Ramotar’s call was made in the wake of the invasion of the home of the former Crime Chief Leslie James on Sunday during which the family was robbed.
Yesterday, the police in a statement emphasised that only recently the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Wendell Blanhum in his presentation on the Police Christmas Policing Plan, “emphatically( made) the case that crime is not spiraling out of control based on our statistics, supported by other data.”
The police reiterated that serious crimes statistics show that there has been an 8% rise for the period January 01, 2015, to October 31, 2015, when compared to the same period in 2014; and for the same period in 2013 an increase of 0.2%.
“Notwithstanding the 8% increase this year, the significant efforts of the police regarding the arrest and prosecution of several high profile groups of criminals and the use of intelligence and investigative skills which led to the solving of a number of serious crimes, including murders and armed robberies dating back to 2013, were highlighted in the recent presentation by the Head CID”, the police said..
The GPF contended that in the recent instances when the Guyana Defence Force was called out in support of the Police this was with the aim of giving assurance to the members of the public and confidence boosting, and not because the police were overwhelmed by the crime situation.
It pointed to the most recent deployment of the GDF in support of the GPF during March and April this year, prior to the last General and Regional Elections which it said was historically a period punctuated with high tension and general unease. The police added that the deployment for that period served its purpose.
“It is unfortunate that the press statement gave the impression that in view of the recent armed robbery committed on an Assistant Commissioner of Police, that any citizen should feel vulnerable. Our view is that such a statement is mistaken and does not fit into the context”, the GPF said.
It added, “We would like to take the opportunity to remind citizens that under the Constitution they have a fundamental right to defend themselves and property.
“The above being said, the current posture of the Guyana Police Force with its social crime prevention programmes, with emphasis on youth empowerment, remains one where results are being seen and with their maintenance greater results are expected in the future.”
Ramotar, in his statement, said the attack illustrated how crime is “spiralling out of control” in the country.
“This is a blatant and brazen attack on one of our most senior police officers,” he said. “It is a slap in the face of the Guyana Police Force and the government as a whole,” he added, while voicing his disappointment at the “casual” approach the government has taken towards handling the situation.
Ramotar said that during the PPP/C’s time in office, the army was called out to do joint patrols with the police during times of heightened criminal activities and it worked well. In particular, he noted that during the Christmas season there were joint patrols to minimise crimes. “This needs to be continued now,” he said.
“I am extremely disappointed that the mentality of the APNU+AFC regime is to keep the army in barracks.
The trend all over the world is for the army to come out and work with the police in combatting crime, as in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, [and] Mexico among others in the world.” He added that as the nature of crime evolves, the role of the disciplined forces must also evolve.
“If Mr Leslie James’s home was so wantonly invaded, no one is safe from criminals,” he added.
