GOVERNMENT has taken a decision to purchase only brand new vehicles for the Guyana Police Force going forward, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has said.

The minister said that with the purchase of new vehicles, the force is likely to see a reduction in the money being expended on fixing reconditioned vehicles shortly after their arrival or after they are put to use by the force. Among the new vehicles expected for the force are SUVs’, Ramjattan pointed out. With a decision like this, the minister was asked about the issue of damage to the State property by the police men and women who drive these vehicles.

He said that the force will just have to ensure that they remind these ranks about the importance of caring the vehicles. On the policy of ranks paying for damage to vehicles which are entrusted to them, Ramjattan said that the policy has been working well but it has also been working against some police ranks. He made mention of the first police vehicle which was gifted to the force from the Chinese two years ago, which crashed in East Berbice. According to the minister, after the process to have the rank initiated began, where the rank would have had to begin repaying the force for the damage to the vehicle, a relative of the cop showed up at his office with some small children, none above the age of ten.

The relative told the minister that for her relative to be working and repaying for the vehicle on his small salary and also caring for the family and footing bills, would be hard for them as she is a house wife and he is the only source of income for the family. With that, the minister explained that he had to exercise compassion and he further urged the commissioner at the time to see how best he can assist the rank in that regard so that his family does not have to suffer financially.

On the issue of police chase, which is also responsible for damage to force vehicles, Ramjattan reminded that the force has a policy in that regard and also pointed out that in the cases of hot pursuit, it all comes down to the judgement of the ranks who are engaged in the practice at that specific moment. According to him, they have to make the deductions of if a hot pursuit is needed or if there are other ways that the ranks could make contact with the person or persons in the vehicle of interest.

The force does has a policy where only in cases where a person is wanted for the capital offence and is fleeing, that the police could engage in hot pursuit, especially if they are in a vehicle or on foot. In cases of traffic offence, the ranks are encouraged to make a note of the registration plate of the vehicle and use that to make contact with either the owner or the driver of the vehicle at the time.