THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is continuing its efforts aimed at crime prevention through police-community partnership programmes, along with social crime prevention interventions in the policing divisions, with special emphasis on empowering youths.During last month, ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) held its Annual Youth Challenge Camp at Madewini Gardens, Madewini, East Bank Demerara. The camp was attended by some one hundred and thirty six (136) youths between the ages of seven and 17, and was planned with the aim of promoting social cohesion, discipline, leadership, respect and vocational skills training among the youths, who were drawn from various communities within the division.

Educational classes were also held with the children of the various youth clubs with focus on Mathematics, English Language and Comprehension. In addition, the police awarded trophies to the top performing students at the recent Grade Six Assessment Examinations from the Bel Air, Redeemer, St. Ambrose and St. Gabriel Primary Schools in recognition of their achievements.

In ‘B’ Division (Berbice), there were medical outreaches on the West Coast of Berbice, and at the Mount Sinai Nursery School in New Amsterdam. The Outreach on the West Coast of Berbice attracted residents from Ithaca to Belladrum, while the one at Mount Sinai catered for residents of the Angoy’s Avenue and New Amsterdam communities.

A Youth Empowerment lecture was held at the Kingston Development Centre at No. 79 Village, Corriverton, and it was facilitated by personnel from the Child Care and Protection Agency and the Domestic Violence Centre. Some 85 youths attended.

Areas dealt with included child abuse, the rights of the child, behaviour patterns, and the consequences of drug abuse.

The division also painted pedestrian crossings at both the Friends Primary School and the Sisters Nursery School, East Bank Berbice and made a significant donation of cricket gear to West Indies U-15 selectee Kevin Sinclair.

The police in ‘D’ Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) conducted a six-day Vacation Bible School programme for 110 youths in collaboration with the Faith and Grace Assembly at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. Work is in progress with the construction of a shed with seats for the accommodation of pensioners while collecting their pensions at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Post Office. It is also planned to have a similar shed erected at the Den Amstel Post Office.

In the police ‘E’ Division (Linden/Kwakwani), work continued among the youths with two one-week day youth camps being held at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground and at the Wismar/Christianburg Secondary School at Wismar, where a total of 135 members of police youth clubs in the division participated.

A quantity of sporting gear was also presented to members of the Kairuni and Silver Hill Police Youth Groups.

Divisional commanders also held a number of community outreach meetings, where issues and concerns of members of the public were addressed.

During July 2015, there was a total of twelve (12) interventions supported by the religious community in the Cops and Faith Community Network, which treats with juvenile first offenders for minor crimes as a preemptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps.

Since the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network in September 2013, and unto July 31, 2015, there has been a total of 186 such interventions. In all cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders; and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.

In relation to the family liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence project, which is also under the Cops and Faith Community Network, there were eleven (11) interventions by members of the religious community in response to attempted suicide, fatal accidents and several cases of serious crime, including armed robbery and murder, where the affected persons, victims and relatives were counselled.

By Michel Outridge