SENIOR Police Superintendent Reshi Dass, who serves as the Divisional Detective Officer of “A” Division, has informed the Guyana Chronicle that the police have found there are too many young people smoking illegal substances in communities across the country, especially in “A” Division.Speaking with this publication on crime fighting strategies within the division, and measures being adopted to bring the rates down, Mr. Dass said the police are now looking to the religious and secular community leaders for assistance in arresting this issue, since it adds to the crime statistics of the country when the practice becomes a craving for the young people and they involve themselves in unlawful practices in an effort to satisfy that craving.

He said crime fighting postures within the division include erecting random roadblocks and engaging in stop-and-search and other anticrime activities, many of which are strictly intelligence-led.

Senior Superintendent Dass explained that the raids are mostly conducted in the mornings and afternoons, and he said the Force is asking members of the public for their cooperation.
Dass said, “If you have nothing to hide, or have committed no illegal act, then cooperating with the police should not be an issue for you.”

The raids and other anti-crime operations are also supported by rural constables and members of the community policing groups in the various areas of “A” Division.

Dass said that instances of serious crimes being committed in the division have been on the decrease, and like his seniors have been saying at different functions, the trend has a lot to do with the work the police have been doing in communities across the country in the areas of social crime prevention, a different style of policing adopted by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has since last year been endeavouring to foster a truer and more genuine relationship between the Guyana Police Force and members of the communities as part of the police reform process, which aims to regain public confidence.

In this regard, the GPF’s adoption of several communities with assistance of corporate Guyana has seen several community-related activities and programmes being launched under the Guyana Police Force umbrella. Those initiatives are especially evident and vibrant in the Police A, B C and E Divisions.

Former President Donald Ramotar and former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee have both commended the Police Force for its work with the community, deeming it work that has long been needed.

Recently sworn in Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, who is now heading the ministry once named the Ministry of Home Affairs, has also signalled his willingness to continue supporting the police’s social crime prevention programmes.

In other parts of the world, social crime prevention programmes are very important, and attract huge support from Government as a means of assisting the police to bring down the rates of serious and other crimes, both at the community level and nationally.

By Leroy Smith