– Vyphuis
COMMANDER of Police ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis has announced that policing arrangements will be intensified for the Christmas Season, from November 15, 2010 to January 15, 2011. He said, last Thursday, that the strategy is to ensure that citizens undertake their activities in a safe environment, during the anticipated increase in the commercial parts of the city and its environs.
Vyphuis said the intention is to reduce crime, as well.
He said, during this year, ranks in the Georgetown headquartered division recovered 35 firearms as compared to 23 last year, 52.2 per cent more and he credited the success to better community relations, intelligence gathering, roadblocks, stop and search exercises and raids.
Vyphuis said, based on percentage, there has been a decrease in crime by approximately 11 per cent in 2009 and 10.4 per cent this year, overall.
He said policing achievements this year include a March ‘stop and search’ on  East Bank Demerara that yielded a firearm that one occupant threw out of a vehicle, the subject of a case pending in Court.
Vyphuis said, in May, two cops on foot patrol arrested a man with an unlicensed .32 pistol; in August, a home was broken into at Supply, East Bank Demerara and, due to good intelligence, Police recovered booty valued in excess of $1.5M.
He related that, in October, ranks in Number Four Sub-Division, acting on information, raided two cannabis (marijuana) fields and eradicated 14,000 plants and, that same month, Alberttown Police, following a report on the radio network, arrested one suspect after armed men attacked and robbed persons on the Georgetown Seawall.
Vyphuis mentioned challenges that affect policing but said, despite the resources put in place at Police Stations, in terms of facilitating witnesses to identify suspects from behind a one way mirror, persons are still reluctant to come forward.
He noted that persons or victims who are robbed fail to give accurate descriptions of motor vehicles, by colour and registration number.
Vyphuis said the tactics they will utilise for Christmas will include enhanced presence within the commercial sectors and shopping public.
For tourists and overseas based visitors, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Intelligence Section will heighten special operations at commercial banks and increase patrols around the city, Georgetown Prison, hotels, night spots, post offices and pay attention to noise nuisance.
The Commander said an additional marine section will be established at Supply, East Bank Demerara also.