– Crime Chief assures

THE Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is adequately equipped with trained ranks to tackle ‘white collar’ crimes, such as fraud and corruption.The new Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Leslie James gave that assurance to the Guyana Chronicle at the opening of the recent Police Officers’ Annual Conference from April 24 to April 26, under the theme ‘Continuing modernisation with special focus on developing public trust and capacity building through partnerships.’
At that forum, President Donald Ramotar charged the officers to be more focus on crimes and referred to the dismissal of several cases in the Courts.
In response, James said the directive by the Head of State would be treated with much importance and examined as to the way forward.
The Senior Superintendent added that the CID, of which he is in charge, will deliver as expected and, since he took office, there have been meetings for related discussions.
James said he met with ranks in the Division but his intention is to go out and meet with others and see how they can bolster their training needs, understanding and approaches to those types of crimes which require patience and a particular kind of approach.
He explained that, as was reported in the Press, the several dismissed cases must be looked at and those issues would, certainly, be examined.
Cited concerns
James said he has been interacting with agencies that cited concerns over the dismissal of those cases.
He noted, too, that issues of counterfeiting, major frauds and their dismissals in some cases where huge sums were defrauded by persons is also a cause for concern which needs their attention, as well.
Issues raised by President Ramotar at the Police Officers Conference and those alluded to in a subsequent address by Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee were focal in the deliberations and discussed as a priority.
The conference took cognisance of the concerns raised by President Ramotar, including unsolved crimes, prosecutions and the low conviction rates in the Courts, Police Reform, Corruption, the drug trade and boosting the Force’s crime fighting capabilities.
The maintenance of good working relations and collaboration with the other Disciplined Services and law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean and further afield, improved training for ranks, enhancing Police community relations and strengthening the capacity of policing groups.