WITH regard to the 16 percent decrease in serious crimes in ‘A’ Division, Commander, Assistant Commissioner, Guyana Police Force Leslie James said it was a collective effort led mainly by intelligence gathering work from its dedicated ranks who often go beyond the call of duty.

He stated that they have had maintained and increased patrols and continued their presence in all sub-divisions.

The Commander added that there are some areas in the city that have been deemed ‘hotspots’ and said that ranks in plain clothes police those areas.

James told this newspaper that in these ‘hotspot’ areas, crimes are being committed consistently based on reports. He said that using intelligence gathering efforts, they hope to bring an end to these criminal activities.

The commander pointed out that while they are utilising their resources and manpower to become more efficient in their response to crime, they have had just a few successes so far.

Policing
The Commander said that they have continued their community policing with the bicycle patrols of 30 ranks who are unarmed but do a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ work in many city wards.

James stated that they also have team policing ongoing; an initiative of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to interface with communities and have interactions between citizens and police at grassroots levels where they can determine some of the burning issues affecting the ordinary citizens.

The senior officer told the Guyana Chronicle that this social intervention initiative by GPF is to assist community and police relations and at the same time formulate strategies in crime prevention.

James said, “Crime prevention aspects are paramount for us in this division and we try to engage youths into sports activities by hosting football matches among other activities in which youths from our scouts groups and camps participate.”

On Saturday (today) the youths of ‘A’ Division in collaboration with ranks will host their annual Youth Expo on Main Street, Georgetown in which the talents of the youths will be showcased to members of the public.

Impact Base
James said that the Impact Base unit that is housed at Brickdam Police Station is very much alive and vibrant. The senior officer who is responsible for ‘A’ Division and its ranks related that the Impact Base is responsible for mobile, foot, bicycle and motorcycle patrols which happen on a 24-hour basis.

He pointed out too that the Impact Base supplements their efforts in the sub-division with criss-cross types of patrols, that is, patrols going from east to west which is a strategy employed to minimise criminal activities.

James said they are also working hand-in-hand with the community policing groups in both crime fighting and social initiatives.

As for traffic patrols and campaigns, the Assistant Commissioner stated that they have a no-nonsense policy in relation to drunk driving and heavily tinted vehicles without permit.

He said traffic enforcement is maintained daily and even at nights through their road block efforts which have yielded successes.