Divisional Commander – Police/civilian relationship improving in Region Two

Region’s divisional commander, Woman Superintendent Denise Griffith during the Guyana
Police Force’s programme ‘Police and You,’ said that the relationship between the police and
civilians in Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) is steadily improving due to the deliberate move
by the law enforcement officers to allow residents to become familiar with them.
“I find a lot of members of the public, they would call me directly and they would say certain
things, and I would cause ranks to go out in certain areas, ranks that I would choose, I cannot
send any and every rank there,” the commander said. She added, “I have been getting a lot
support from the members of the public. I have been getting a lot of cooperation. We had a
robbery down Supenaam and actually the members of the public caught the first perpetrator, they
called me and said commander we have this guy, they had some information where the second
and third went…the police went, circled the area and we were able to get the second and then
members of the public caught the third and handed him over to the police.”
Commander Griffith said the relationship between the police and civilians is not where she wants
it to be, but noted that confidence in the police is growing. She has also been assuring residents
that information shared with the police will remain confidential.
The Commander on to note that there is a 50 per cent decrease in robberies, with a 50 per cent
decrease clear – up rate. However, the commander pointed out there is some level of corruption
between police and civilians, and urged those responsible to desist from so doing.
“What I have been doing since I got there, I have been speaking from time to time with members
of the public and assuring them that they can help us. And I say it at all levels, corruption
involves a giver and a taker and if the police demands then you have the right to make a report,”
she declared.
She continued, “If you are offering the policeman not to be prosecuted, then it is an offer and
acceptance. So, if you want us to work together, then members of the public also have to desist
in getting the police involved in an act of corruption.”