AS the country celebrates 41 years since the establishment of Community Policing here, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramattan, is calling on more communities to join the unit in an effort to reduce crime.

At the same time, the minister highlighted several achievements of the CPGs, including training programs. He was speaking at a briefing at his office on Brickdam on Wednesday morning. According to him, the training programmes will be extended to Liaison Officers and Rural Constables.

According to Ramjattan, the celebrations this year will take place at Corentyne, Berbice at Division A3, under the theme, “Celebrating 41 years of Partnership, Supporting Reform and Development.”

The activities commenced this week with a Church Service at Tagore Secondary School on April 1, and will conclude on May 27, with a Women’s Conference. Statistically, Ramjattan reported that during the period January to December, 2016 the CPGs conducted (15, 918) vehicular patrols, (5, 729) motor cycle patrols, (1, 521) bicycle patrols, (1, 427) foot patrols, (857) boat patrols and (254) ATV patrols. There were 89 arrests, ranging from murders to domestic violence during the period.

Last year also, the groups provided sports equipment for youth groups, as well as sewing machines for Women’s Groups. He said that the membership of CPOG currently consists of 166 groups, with a membership of 4,347 persons. Over the years, members were exposed to training in several areas, including policing, administration, domestic violence, Trafficking-In-Persons (TIP) and conflict and anger management.

Community Policing in Guyana commenced in the year 1976, with the objective being to harness the energies of willing members of communities across Guyana in support of the work of the Police, to achieve a crime-free society, and to be responsive, together with the Police, to the needs of the communities in respect of the necessity to maintain law and order.

The groups were established with the aim of overlooking crime prevention at the community level, as well as the protection of public property. The objectives were expanded to embrace development of youth, health consciousness, road safety, environmental enhancement and any other activities of benefit to the community.