NOW that the Elections are over and things are returning to normalcy, the Guyana Police Force will also be returning to its community-related initiatives aimed at building partnerships with members of the public.‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle that, for the remainder of the year, the Force – especially the ‘A’ Division under his stewardship – will be establishing additional youth clubs and groups.

He said focus will remain the same; that is, engaging young people in skills training, and helping them reintegrate into society while staying away from a life of crime.

Commander Hicken reminded that youth groups in the communities of Grove, Mocha, Agricola, Leopold Street, Albouystown and Tiger Bay will continue to receive support from the police, and any other assistance that comes the way of the Police Force to be channelled to its social crime prevention programme.

Asked to recap the achievements and strides the police were able to see with establishment of the youth groups, Assistant Commissioner Hicken spoke of the improved relationship between the police and members of the community in which they have a presence, certification of several young people in the communities of Agricola, Grove and Albouystown for programmes they would have completed; and general cooperation and information sharing by the residents with the police.

In Albouystown, the young people have been given the opportunity to create a block-building establishment, and be exposed to sewing and pedicure and manicure training.

In Agricola, the young people have been through tie-dyeing and fabric painting, while another group has been exposed to training in Food and Nutrition, all compliments of the Guyana Police Force and members of the business community.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said since taking over as commissioner, he has been pushing for a social crime prevention approach to policing, and members of the communities and faith-based and other organisations were invited to come on board the initiative, and they have all been lending their support.

In a review of the approach he had taken, at the Annual Officers Conference of senior police ranks and members of civil society, Persaud recalled that evidence has shown that implementation of the various community-related projects and involvement of the stakeholders have contributed to decreasing criminal activities in some areas in a very significant way, while other communities are still working to get their figures down by a wider margin.

The Social Crime Prevention approach to policing is not confined to “A” Division, but applies also in Berbice, Linden, West Coast and Banks of Demerara, and to some extent Essequibo. (Leroy Smith)