COMMANDER of ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner, Clifton Hicken on Monday told a gathering of stakeholders that the division has been able to record a 4.5% decrease in serious crimes, a somewhat new achievement in the division.Hicken told the stakeholders that the decrease was as a direct result of the relationships that the police has been fostering with the community members, business people and members of faith-based organisations.

The meeting was held at ‘A’ Division headquarters, Brickdam.

According to Hicken, the police continue to receive tip offs from persons who traditionally wanted nothing to do with the police much less informing the police of suspicious activities and characters within their communities.
On Monday the division held its first stakeholders meeting for the year continuing from where they left off last year. The forum was attended by members of the business community, faith-based organisations, members of youth clubs and sub-divisional officers and station management committee members, along with the senior officers of the division.

Hicken told the gathering that while the police did not develop any youth groups in the areas of Samantha Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara last year, there were constant police patrols and a police presence in the area following the murder and subsequent vigilante killing of another man who had robbed a teacher.

YOUTH GROUPS
Hicken said that the police will this year be forming a youth group in that and other communities along the East Bank.

In addition there would be focus on the traffic situation, especially between Grove and Diamond as well as between the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Houston where it was reported that minibus operators contribute a lot to the confusion there, especially during peak hours.

In the city, the division would be extending the boundaries of the main economic areas to focus outside the traditional commercial boundaries of Regent Street, Camp Street, North Road, South Road and other areas.

STABROEK MARKET FOCUS

There would also be special focus at the market places, especially the Stabroek Market area. Hicken said that while the force is building capacity it is also focusing on intelligence-led policing which has seen less inconveniencing of persons who are genuinely going about their normal business.

The Commander also touched on the issue of general and regional elections which are imminent and called on members of the Police Groups to show even greater support for the police as the ranks will be burdened with more tasks as the country heads closer to elections. (Leroy Smith)