– Says no vigilante justice would be tolerated

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has made it clear that while his administration fully supports the work of community policing groups and the investments to establish these outfits, “vigilante justice” will not be condoned, nor would those wishing to practise it be tolerated.

The President pointed out that the Guyana Police Force should be looking for genuine community policing groups which would complement the work of the Police Force at the level of the communities.
He made these comments last week while addressing the Police Officers’ Conference at Eve Leary.
The President said the Force should ensure that much training is done with the members of the community policing groups, so that they fully understand their roles and the importance of effectively communicating with the police and police stations in the fight against community-based crime.

He said that one of the ways this can be achieved is if, at the level of the GPF leadership, there is an embracing of the reform process; since junior officers and other stakeholders would be happy to support the reform process, once there is evidence that the leadership of the Force is comfortable with the changes which would, in the long run, cause the Force to be more effective, efficient and relevant.
The President told the officers and heads of the other services that once the police have the trust of the communities, crime solving will improve. He warned that there can be no substitute for good community-police relationship if one eyes effective crime solving and fighting.

Communities must be involved in their own security, the President stated, as such an approach would help to build and sustain public confidence in the police, which would redound to the building of public trust in the Force and its members.

The strategy of community policing has, over the years and in other parts of the world, proven to be the right approach, the President said. He made it clear also that, with such an approach, the police can expect greater intelligence gathering and sharing as a result of its relationship with the communities.

He called for establishment of community groups in areas which have not seen the presence of such a formation, and pointed out that the more involved the community gets with its security, the more discouraged would be instances of criminal activities by those who may want to carry out their various unlawful acts.

President Ramotar also noted that the Government has long held a favourable view of community policing, hence its re-establishment.

(By Leroy Smith)