IN its quest to reduce crime in ‘D’ Division, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the religious leaders on the corridor of the West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo, yesterday launched its “See Something, Say Something” initiative in the Cops and Faith project at Tuschen Car Park, East Bank Essequibo.This was done during the GPF back-to-school distribution exercise.

Addressing the large gathering of residents from Tuschen and its environs, which included parents and children, ‘D’ Division Commander Stephen Mansell said that the Cops and Faith initiative was launched by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in 2013 to reduce crime in the community.

He described it as part of the GPF’s social inter-agency project under which C-PETS — Creating Positive Environment Through Safe Communities and Partnership – was able to assist 83 youths to successfully complete a six-week skills training programme at the Leonora Technical and Vocational Institute recently.

Mansell spoke of the objectives of that project, in which the GPF partnered with several agencies to set the initiative into high gear. He said it was well received, since almost all the graduates have further enrolled for the one-year programme to make themselves marketable in the world of work.

Mansell admonished that the police alone cannot fight crime, therefore projects such as “See Something, Say Something” are geared towards building a better relationship between the community and the police. He urged residents to do their part by volunteering information in relation to incidents of crime to police officers or to the faith-based leaders. He assured that it would assist in the reduction of crime in the division.

He asked that citizens work with the GPF to curtail incidents of crime and admonished them to speak to the people they feel comfortable with, and promised that whatever is garnered would be treated with strict confidentiality. He said citizens need not be afraid to pass on information, since by so doing they would be playing a vital role in regard to crime-fighting.

Mansell said, “If you have information, pass it on to us or the pastors.” He reminded the gathering that crimes can be prevented if the police respond quickly and maintain law and order.

He pointed out that there is always a soft side of the police, and that side seeks to foster better relations with citizens. He described as a part of the soft side of the police yesterday’s activity in which 60 children were presented with backpacks with school supplies in time for the new school term.

The commander said the police and the religious bodies in ‘D’ Division have combined their efforts to make the initiative a success, since they want to lend a helping hand to children and build a safer environment, because children are our future.

He said, “The police are not the enemy, we are here to uphold the law and maintain order, because we want to go back to the days when people can sleep with their windows open; and for that to be a reality today, we have to work together to rid our community of crime.”
Pastor Derick Anderson, who spoke on behalf of the religious leaders, said the Cops and Faith initiative is a collaborative effort. He said that religious leaders are working side by side with the police to reduce crime in the community; and the station sergeants of all police stations in that division are tasked to come up with community-based projects. As a result, the back-to-school hamper initiative was realised by Corporal Michael Clarke of Leonora Police Station.

He revealed that he was once afraid of the police, but said that after working with the GPF, he is not scared anymore. He urged residents to assist the police to have a safer community, because it would ultimately enhance residents’ lives and those of their children.

Pastor Anderson told the gathering that there are still good cops around, and they are there to assist residents and to foster a better relationship with residents. Any activity will certainly bring them closer.

He also encouraged residents to embrace the crime-prevention initiative “See Something, Say Something,” and to speak out against crime in that corridor.

Parents of children who were gifted backpacks with stationery and water bottles, among other things, told this newspaper that they are pleased at the gesture of the police and the religious leaders, and that it goes to show they care about the less fortunate.

By Michel Outridge