Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday urged Community Policing Groups (CPGs) to make efforts to tackle the root of crime in communities.
“It is important that we see the community policing group as being more directly involved at the community level, solving crimes, yes, but also helping in the preparation of solutions to those crimes, getting to the root,” Ramjattan said at a news conference in the Ministry’s boardroom as celebrations began to mark the 40th anniversary of Community Policing Organisations in Guyana.
Tackling the root causes is needed, he added, because when the economic situation is bad, crime increases.
During the press conference, he mentioned that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is currently below its maximum capacity by some 2,000 ranks.
“We have been working hard to ensure that there is maximum capacity in the force, but due to varying constraints, such as persons complaining of low salaries and so forth, we have been unable to do so,” Ramjattan said.
Ramjattan said the main objective of community policing must always be to harness the energies of willing members of communities to support the work of the police. “I do not like the characterisation that they are separate or equal,” he said.
He noted that while the Guyana Police Force is superior to CPGs, it must be understood that they supplement the police force and they are going to be integrated within the activities of police as they have been over the years.
Ramjattan reported that CPGs, of which there are 263 with a total of 5,194 members, continue to impact crime. During the last half of 2015, he said, CPGs made a total of 38 arrests in cases ranging from murder to domestic violence.
During that period, he also noted, CPGs conducted 265 vehicular patrols, 138 motorcycle patrols, 150 bicycle patrols, 443 foot patrols, 50 boat patrols and 13 ATV patrols.
Ramjattan said building community trust should also be high on the agenda of community policing groups. He also reminded CPGs to consider what was recently said by President David Granger, at the Annual Police Officer’s Conference. “Community policing establishes partnerships between the police and the public and it must be emphasised that problem solving should be one of the basic core,” the president had said.
Community policing in Guyana started out as what were then known as Crime Prevention Committees under the late Commissioner of Police Henry Fraser on March 11, 1976, with the first group being launched at the La Grange Police Station.
The 40th anniversary is being observed throughout April, under the theme, “Community Policing – Building Public Trust, Social Cohesion and Embracing Youth Development.”
A number of activities will be held during this month in celebration, including outreaches to schools, community meetings, an inter-faith service, a youth conference, a women’s conference and a family fun day. Training and awareness raising campaigns will also be carried out for the community groups under the Citizens Security Strengthening Programme.
