AS part of the crackdown on the illegal sale of firecrackers, the police will be raiding and seizing such items and other contraband being sold by shops and businesses.
This is according to acting ‘C’ Division (East Coast of Demerara) Commander, Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell during his presentation on Christmas Policing for the division on Tuesday, at the Cove and John Police Station.

The commander said squibs and firecrackers are prohibited items and shop- owners and other persons found selling them will be arrested.
“Their items will be seized and they will face prosecution. It must be noted that the use of squibs and fire crackers disturb the peace; squibs and firecrackers can be determined as an explosion from a firearm and it can result in person/persons receiving grievous bodily harm,” Commander Mansell said.

He explained that policing arrangements in ‘C’ Division were intensified from November 15, 2017 and will run until January 15, 2018. This is in order to ensure that citizens carry out their activities in a safe and secure environment.
Mansell said it is expected that there will be an increase in commercial and economic activities in the division, along with an increase in traffic (vehicular and pedestrian).
According to the senior superintendent, there was an overall decrease in serious crimes in the division by 14 per cent from the period January to October 2017.

He noted that there was also a 30 per cent decrease in gun robberies for the corresponding period January to October 2017, in ‘C’ Division.
He said the division will be divided into three sections in order to adequately police the East Coast of Demerara and its environs.

“Each sector will be commanded by an officer, inspector with subordinate officers and other ranks. There will be an increase in patrols around commercial areas and car parks and continued focus on noise nuisance, roadblocks and raids,” Mansell explained.
He told members of the business community that there will be anti-crime patrols by day and by night, as well as motorcycle patrols throughout the division during the Christmas season, focusing on commercial businesses.

Members of the community policing groups throughout the division will lend support to the police by conducting patrols in their different sectors.
Commander Mansell also indicated that noise nuisance would not be tolerated and persons will be charged.

“Making loud and continuous noise contrary to section 174 (A) of the summary Jurisdiction (offence) Act will be enforced,” he said.