Strategies to improve community relations being explored by GPF– Acting Commissioner

Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken revealed during a webinar hosted by the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry – Diaspora Unit on Tuesday, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is currently working on a number of approaches to improve community relations.

Hicken pointed out that these strategies include; having professional courses, establishing policies to attract the right people, establishing selection and quality management committees, and decentralisation of the welfare and daycare services, to improve staff support. The acting commissioner noted that a number of training programmes were established for the ranks including in community relations, crime and criminology, general policing, and basic English, among others geared at improving the services provided by the police force.

Hicken went on to disclose that scholarships were also provided to the ranks that will enable them to boost operational efficiency.  “We identify the weaknesses and we develop training programmes to mitigate those weaknesses and to continue to build on the strengths that we have,” he said. The acting Commissioner disclosed that a therapist has already been recruited to provide psychotherapy services for ranks.

Hicken stressed that to provide better infrastructure and a safe environment for persons working in the force, upcoming strategic plans are geared at remodelling divisional operational rooms to function as “real-time command centres.” Hicken revealed that there will be the establishment of a Police Academy and reconstruction of the Criminal Investigation Headquarters and Tactical Service Unit.

He added that the GPF will soon be transitioning from a paper-based system to an e-document system, with electronic crime and traffic management system software. Regarding the issue of security, he expressed the view that Guyana’s general crime rate is manageable since “the security apparatus demonstrates preparedness and operational efficiency to respond to and provide public safety.”

The Top Cop assured citizens that the force will be proactive in deterring national security treats through partnerships with businesses, communities and international law enforcement agencies.