CRIME is high on citizens’ agenda, given the fear of loss of possession, lives and loved ones. Agitation, from various sections of the society to confront crime head-on is driven by genuine concern, though some will note the occasional political partisanship raising its head. The Guyana Police Force, under the policy direction of Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has given the society the assurance that measures will be taken to curb and eliminate criminal activities.
The minister’s approach to confronting crime is dissimilar to his predecessor, former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. He has demonstrated a preparedness to listen to diverse views, evident with Guyana re-kindling relationship with the United Kingdom where the officers have been the beneficiary of technical support such as in training. This has contributed to improving the force’s crime fighting techniques and public campaigns.
The steady decrease in serious crime, complemented by government’s intention to activate legislation to address white collar crime, is sending a strong message to all and sundry that criminal activities will not be tolerated. Also bolstering decrease is the different approaches in the developmental policies. Whereas Mr. Rohee demonstrated inclination to crime fighting as a political tool, lending perception it was designed to gain or acquire support of one group at the expense of others, the minister’s approach is using crime statistics, across the spectrum, in targeting reduction.
Holistic approaches to crime fighting means that communities and areas of prevalent criminal activities could be better targeted and resources directed. It is fair to say that having analysed the two strategies of the incumbent and predecessor, the non-divisive approach has thus far been yielding better results. In our polarised society crime is used as a wedge and where the media often report criminal acts, aiding society’s awareness, the best measure is the statistics.
Police report for the first quarter shows a 4 percent decline in serious crime compared to the same period last year. In 2016 there was a 16 percent decline in serious crime compared to 2015. Where media do not cover every crime, as reported to the police ,these statistics become useful in gauging the police successes or lack thereof in crime fighting.
Three other aspects in crime fighting that may be overlooked are that of the police public relations policy, community/police relations, and increase police presence. Where in the past the police earned the ire of the citizenry with the manner they handled information and treated with the public, there have been improvements. Reportedly, the Force had contracted the service of a professional public relations firm to provide training and education. The recognition of public discontent and effort to win the public’s confidence cannot go un-noticed.
The physical presence of more police in the community, forging relations with the people as protector not adversary, is improving community/police relations, which is necessary to confidence-building and intelligence-gathering. This is also made more effective with the police launched of a “WhatsApp Group,” linking it with stakeholders in society.
The Police’s motto is to Serve and Protect, when it is seen that actions are taken to do just that, such stand to improve its relationship with the public. What could be construed as a strong message to the police and society is that the APNU+AFC government will not tolerate excesses and brutality, which arguably is a contributory factor in the subsiding of extrajudicial killings and by extension the police earning the people’s trust. The aggressive campaigns to curb the spate of road accidents, deaths, injuries and damage of properties, resulting in the depletion of the nation’s human resources and financial loss by the affected, are noted.
According to police statistics there has seen a 19 percent decrease in fatal accidents, 16.3 percent in serious accidents, 27 percent decrease in minor accidents, and 23 percent decrease in damage accidents compared to the corresponding period (April) last year.
The clear delineation of duties and respect for same between the policymaker i.e. the minister, and the technical people, i.e. the Commissioner of Police and his team, have aided better policing. The acknowledgement of this demarcation demonstrates greater respect for the competency of the technical people, boosting confidence among officers that their actions will not be subject to political intrusion as in the past, but to that of laws and standard practices guiding their work.
