Integrated Crime Information System (Part II)
IN LAST week’s column, the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS) element of the Citizen Security Programme was introduced. This is in keeping with the reform and transformation of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from an incident-driven, reactive institution to one that relies on     analyses of patterns, incidents and problems. This major initiative is aimed at supporting the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and the Guyana Police Force in creating an enabling environment, wherein comprehensive, up-to-date crime-related information is readily available and shared through the use of modern technology.

Major objectives
1.  The establishment of ICIS will provide the MOHA and the GPF with access to other existing governmental databases which may possess information that provides complete profiles of perpetrators and victims.
2.  The enhancement of the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system in Guyana as a collective, through accessibility to accurate, digital and comprehensive crime data, as well as improving the analytical capacity and work practices of policy analysts and GPF personnel.
3. The development of a functional crime observatory with capacity for spatial, statistical analysis and geo-referenced mapping of crime and violence-related injuries and deaths, thereby facilitating the assessment of the impact of social programmes and interventions.
4.  The building of capacity in the Data Management Centres at the MOHA and GPF for the     operation, management and maintenance of IT infrastructure, thereby positioning these institutions to become technologically-driven organizations with high-performance profiles.

Participating agencies
ICIS will provide for information exchange between the Ministry of Home Affairs and other key government agencies namely:
• The Office of Public Prosecutions
• The Magistrate and Supreme Courts
• The Guyana Prison Service
• The Guyana Revenue Authority
• The Deeds Registry
• The General Register Office
• The Licence Revenue Office
• The Immigration and Passport  Office

ICIS Components
The Integrated Crime Information system is made up of the following components:
• Data centres at GPF and MOHA
• Wide Area Network (WAN)   
• Software modules

It will utilise software modules that will record crime occurrences and reporting.   
This module will facilitate the electronic data input and reporting of all crime, regardless of physical location, and support ranks with their investigation and verification of information received from reporters, witnesses and suspects.  
In terms of case preparation, this module will support the preparation of all information pertaining to cases brought against persons arrested by the GPF, and support the data entry and tracking of information, from when charges are laid to the final decision in the Magistrate Courts. It will further allow the staff at the DPP’s Office to review and provide guidance on the direction of cases prepared by the GPF.
The system will also provide data entry and updates of the criminal records of convicted persons  in the processing of applications for police clearance, as well as generate statistical  reports for  investigative and  intelligence-gathering activities.
The ICIS is also geared for greater efficiency in managing inmates at the prisons. This includes electronic registration and maintenance of bio-data for all prisoners, recording and  monitoring of education /training received by prisoners, prisoner release scheduling, court appearances, and prison population statistics.

Injury surveillance
Statistical information will be gathered from Georgetown Public Hospital, and the New Amsterdam, Linden, Bartica, Suddie, East Demerara, Diamond, and Lethem Hospitals on injuries and deaths due to homicide, non-intentional death, suicide, traffic accidents, assault, and other crimes.
To be continued…