CRIME, traffic violations, domestic violence and breach of the COVID-19 restrictions came under the microscope of Region One (Barima-Waini) Commander, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, during an interactive training session with members of Community Policing Groups (CPGs).
Some two dozen CPG members attended the session which was held last weekend at the Santa Rosa Primary School in Moruca.

Commander Persaud said the meeting promoted partnerships and community-oriented policing as it was underscored that crime prevention requires a proactive approach by all stakeholders, especially residents of the various communities.
Among those present were the CPG Chairperson of Moruca, Heddi James, and Liason Officer Hercules Domingo.

The commander singled out the roles of both the police and the CPGs in making communities safer from crime, traffic violations, domestic violence and breach of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Police ranks under the supervision of a sergeant were reminded to make themselves accessible and to give feedback to persons living in the community they serve.

“You need to listen more and understand public needs, be transparent, accountable and effective in your approach. Be a problem solver, be professional and continue to patrol your beat,” the commander told the CPG members.

He also reminded them that they took an oath to serve the state of Guyana without favour or affection, malice or ill-will and to promote public peace while being proactive in preventing offences.

Further, he reminded the CPG members not to stray from their roles while noting that they should work closely with the police in an effort to prevent or reduce crime in their respective communities.

The commander emphasised that they should volunteer information on suspicious characters or activities in their respective communities, work closely with the police through community policing forums, encourage greater contact between neighbours, support victims of crime through counselling, and safeguard the neighborhood by forming a security watch scheme.

“Never take the law into their own hands, always be alert and support the police, assist in solving ongoing problems in the community, know the locations where crimes are committed, find solutions to local problems, and report other issues bothering the community like noise nuisance, domestic violence and other abusive behaviours by particular individuals in the community,” he added.

Some of the concerns raised by CPG members included: the need for uniforms and identification card for the members, the swearing in of rural constables for each group to empower them with the authority to effect arrest of offenders when the police cannot get to the scene quickly, transportation and fuel for patrol vehicles.