SENIOR police officers in ‘A’ Division on Saturday last held their second outreach with residents of Diamond Housing Scheme.

The residents met with Commander Clifton Hicken; Traffic Officer Trotz; Sub-divisional Officer Parsharam; Deputy Commander De Hearte and other ranks.
The meeting was held at the Diamond Secondary School and was organised by the Community Policing Group in the area as a follow- up meeting to one held earlier this year, weeks after Hicken took command of ‘A’ Division.
The commander reported to residents, the success of strategies and plans which were agreed at the first meeting, most of which the residents had requested on the front of policing. He also outlined areas which the force through the division needs to work on a bit harder to complement the work of the community policing group and vice-versa.
The issues of bicycle patrols; traffic congestion heading out of Diamond; break and enter crimes; ranks who neglect their duties; the police response to crimes; the noise nuisance and cooperation between police ranks and members of the community

The police team was told of a particular traffic rank whose name was given and whom residents said would stop drivers for speeding and when that errant driver is allowed to leave, the cop would fail to reset the speed gun and use the same reading on other vehicles, even if the other drivers are driving within the speed limit. This did cause the commander to be upset and he called on the residents to make a formal complaint, so that the matter could be investigated and the rank called to account.
Residents also raised the notion of being better overlookers of their neighbours’ properties by encouraging networking and sharing of numbers, so that everyone within the community has everyone’s number; in that way, information could be easily shared and a better system of looking out for each other could be adopted as they seek to counter incidents of break and enter and larceny.
There was also a case in which a young man was held at gunpoint and his car hijacked; while he was heading out of the village, he met a police patrol and reported the incident. Instead of sending a message over the radio network to alert other ranks in the area however, the police reportedly told the 25 year old that the vehicle they were using does not have the speed to pursue a fleeing car and that he needed to return to the Diamond Police Station to make a report. This, while the party of policemen reportedly continued their purchase of food at a Chinese restaurant, where they were met by the young man.
The ranks’ behaviour was seen as a breach of the standard operating procedures by Commander Hicken, who assured the young man’s mother that the matter will be investigated.
Residents who raised the noise nuisance issue and their reports to the police were advised that they do need to give statements in addition to their reports if they wish to see the prosecution of those who continuously play music at a loud volume that causes any form of discomfort to others.
In closing, Hicken and his senior officers re-affirmed the commitment of the Guyana Police Force to ensure that all citizens are able to live a life free from elements who choose to be on the other side of the law and cause discomfort to law- abiding citizens.