– that CPGs should have greater cooperation with Police Force
CRIME Chief, Senior Superintendent Leslie James, has said it is a good thing for community policing groups to undertake fostering greater cooperation with the Guyana Police Force.
This opinion coincides with President Donald Ramotar’s call for community policing groups (CPG) to assist the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in fighting crime at a community-based level, without resort to vigilante-style justice,
as this would not be condoned by his administration.
James told this publication that the Guyana Police Force has observed that there are rogue elements among the CPG groups, and some would collude with criminals from time to time, whilst others would want to dispense justice without recourse to the law; but if a bandit is caught, regardless of who that bandit is, that person should not have to endure a thrashing from the community, but should be handed over to the police to be prosecuted according to law.
He added that the nature of crimes makes it necessary for the police to work hand in hand with communities, and the CPG serves somewhat as the “eyes and ears” of the police.
James explained that in a global study on CPG, one must recognise that the concept of the police force came about through the ideas of Sir Robert Field in 1839. Field, he said, had been a metropolitan individual who was endowed with a community-minded approach in which he thought that, with the assistance of persons in groups, a community would be safer; he said the police force needs such assistance.
The Crime Chief said community policing evolved from the concept of the community protecting property, among other things, until community policing as is currently perceived became lost from its original approach.
James said that, for various reasons, the community has lost trust in the police at some level; but with a renewed approach, the police and community can still have a healthy relationship in fighting crime.
President Ramotar, in his address at the opening of the recent Police Officers’ Conference at Eve Leary, Georgetown said the Guyana Police Force should be looking for genuine community policing groups to complement the work of the police force at the level of the communities; and that the Force should ensure that much training is done with the members of these groups, so that they fully understand their roles and importance to effectively communicate with the police and police stations in the fight against community-based crime.
(By Michel Outridge)
