THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday announced that the Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV) cameras installed in the city is being manned by an organisation that falls under Office of the President (OP)  and is assisting the police in crime fight as well as in traffic cases.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell told a press conference yesterday that the cameras strategically placed in Georgetown is of use to the GPF and gave the example of a robbery in which the suspects were photographed leaving the crime scene on a motorcycle via the media.
He admitted that improvements are needed and he was not sure if all the cameras are functioning.
However, Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud when questioned by the media said that cameras are used all over the world in which it is seen as an environmental protection such as street lights and cameras etc. and locally the programme needs expansion.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police added that the CCTV cameras have helped the GPF in some incidents of crime and traffic investigations as well and there are efforts in which the police will get direct feed which will be used for independent research and evidence.
Persaud said that the feed from the cameras are going to an organisation, which is in the making and falls under Office of the President and the police do not have direct access only access by request.
In June 2011, the government began installing cameras in the city in keeping with its plan to boost intelligence gathering to combat and deter crime. Cameras were installed at Homestretch and Mandela Avenues, D’urban Street and Mandela Avenue, Rahaman’s Turn, Houston and several other traffic lights on Mandela Avenue, at the junction of Sheriff Street and Rupert Craig Highway and also at other major intersections in central Georgetown.
In 2005 the government had promised to introduce the CCTV cameras in the fight against crime, and five years later it has become a reality.
The headquarters for the monitoring and storage of the footage gathered will be situated in the building of the National Intelligence Centre. The tower and transmission lines will connect the headquarters to other monitoring stations as well, so that the footage can be easily accessible in the prevention of a crime or prosecution. For Georgetown, the cameras would extend up to a certain part of the East Coast of Demerara as well as the East Bank of Demerara.
The introduction of CCTV cameras has been in the pipeline since 2008, when government announced that it is offering duty- free concessions to the private sector for the cameras, and said it will play a vital role in ensuring that they are implemented in public areas.