THE Guyana Police Force Social Crime Prevention initiative continues to make friends along the way, while engaging the young people of Guyana in soft policing and developmental programmes.The latest friend and partner to join the initiative is the President Youth Award Programme of Guyana (PYARG). On Saturday last representatives of the programme along with Commander of ‘A’

Division Clifton Hicken and members of the division’s management team interacted with the Guyana Chronicle and shared their plans.
Speaking during the event at the Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara, was Allister Collins, President of the PYARG who pointed out that the body has recognised the work of the police, especially Commander Hicken’s role in the areas of youth development through the partnership approach and social crime prevention programmes.
According to Collins, he plans to give his full support to the programmes of the police as they relate to the involvement of young people.
Meanwhile, there will also be training for the young people as part of the partnership with the PYARG. He told the Guyana Chronicle that he will focus on training the young people as it was found that they are inadequately trained and equipped to deal with current struggles and situations.
He said further that the PYARG feels strongly that giving the young people support for their education and skills training will complement the work that the police are already doing.
According to him, the work that is ongoing in the police ‘A’ Division is quite encouraging and so the PYARG is looking to see where this needs to be strengthened to keep the children gainfully occupied.

DUKE’S PROGRAMME

Meanwhile, Edwin K. Kimani, Regional Director of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, who is now in Guyana commended the Guyana Police Force for its initiative. He reminded that policing should not only be restricted to fighting crime by confronting armed criminals but other methods ought to be adopted to ensure effectiveness.
Kimani explained that community relations are indeed very important in crime fighting as he cited a similar approach in Kenya where he is from. He explained that the police in that part of Africa have been engaging the community on a social crime prevention front and it is proving to be very effective.
David Clerk, also of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and who serves as the Regional Director of the Americas, noted that the Duke’s programme is being executed in 144 countries across the world and once the necessary arrangements are put in place, then Guyana can be added to that list.
He endorsed the community aspect of policing which is not only to offer protection on the streets, but also to understand the social problems which are affecting the citizens and leading them to a life of crime.

According to Clarke, there needs to be also an evidence-based approach to solving those issues and problems even as he, like his colleagues, commended the police for the work they have been doing with the young people as part of the Guyana Police Force Social Crime Prevention Programmes.
Also speaking was Divisional Commander Hicken who is also seen as the lead person with respect to the Guyana Police Force Social Crime Prevention Approach, apart from Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud.
He reminded that the objective of the SCP programme of the GPF was first to develop the young people and provide them with proper role models but that focus has since been broadened where police in ‘A’ Division have been able to produce ten youth groups stretching from Conversation Street to Dora.
Hicken said that the partnership with the PYARG could be expanded rapidly but there needs to be a determination on both sides with respect to what roles each will play and talks in that regard have already commenced.
He also called for sustenance of these partnerships and maintenance of the programmes which have the potential to change the perception of young people, especially those residing in the so-called depressed communities.

By Leroy Smith