COMMISSIONER of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken has called on ranks of Regional Police Division Seven to up their game and increase their presence and visibility during the upcoming Christmas season.

He made these comments when he visited Bartica along with Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag) Calvin Brutus, Police Finance Officer Bharat Persaud, and met with Regional Commander Dion Moore and ranks of the division on Thursday at the Bartica Town Council boardroom.

Hicken stressed that each of the 12 Regional Police Divisions should adopt an increased police presence, working with private security agencies, Community Policing Groups (CPGs) and other stakeholders to ensure a higher degree of visibility than the standard police setting.

“We expect to see CPGs with their attachments working in conjunction with the police. We expect you to have a registry of the number of security services in Bartica and that you work in conjunction with those services. We expect the rural constables to come out and support the initiative of Christmas policing,” Commissioner Hicken posited.

In his passionate charge, the “Top Cop” stressed the importance of professionalism in the police force and reminded the ranks present that they are the “face of the Guyana Police Force” and must adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other established procedures.

“You are ambassadors of this noble organisation, the faces of the organisation, the broader side of the pyramid. You are at the operational level of the pyramid, which means you are interacting with members of the public daily, more frequently than us at the senior level,” Hicken told the ranks.

As a result, he told the ranks that their interaction with members of the public whom they are tasked with serving and protecting would speak volumes about the Guyana Police Force.
“Your actions will impact the organisation positively or negatively. In this regard, you must always maintain ethical standards,” Hicken declared.

Several initiatives are planned to be implemented throughout the season. These include 24-hour deployments of foot, traffic, static, anti-crime, and vehicular patrols in high-crime areas across the country. This is expected to reduce crime, while also improving traffic flow.

The “Top Cop” noted that adding police ranks in high-traffic areas would bolster this posture. At the same time, the force will also conduct community outreach programmes to educate citizens on how to remain safe during the holiday season.

In his remarks, Deputy Commissioner of Administration (ag) Calvin Brutus noted that the Guyana Police Force administration is now going around in all police regional divisions to meet with ranks on the ground.

The deputy commissioner also used the opportunity to point out to the ranks that their responsibility continues beyond the call of duty, noting that professionalism must be maintained whether they are in or out of uniform.
While alluding to the importance of ranks taking their work seriously, Brutus said: “We need to refocus ourselves in the right direction, remembering that our mandate is for Service and Protection, and we revisit the oath in Chapter 16:01 Section 13.”

Brutus also admonished the ranks to go through Chapter 16:01 “slowly, line by line, and you will see the value of the oath that you took and the great responsibility that is placed upon your shoulders from that same oath.”

The Guyana Police Force on Tuesday announced its plans for beefing up security across the country, in all 12 Regional Police Divisions, during the upcoming Christmas season.
The force revealed the security arrangements during its comprehensive Christmas-policing presentation at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary.
The ‘Christmas policing posture’ commenced on November 15, 2022, and ends on January 15, 2023.

Later in the day, scores of residents turned out to meet with the “Top Cop” and his team to highlight and discuss several topical issues surrounding best practices for ranks and security concerns affecting their community.
Hicken stressed the necessity for cooperation and partnership between the police and communities throughout the engagement, noting that the GPF constantly expands its internal capabilities to fulfil the populace’s needs.

Along those lines, the “Top Cop” further informed the residents that “no haphazard behaviour” by GPF members would be tolerated, declaring that under his direction the force’s ethical standards would be upheld.

Further on, he spoke extensively on the integration of school dropouts into society.
Thereafter, urging members of the community to create a conducive atmosphere that can aid in the nurturing of youths.

So while reflecting on his childhood upbringing, the commissioner alluded to the critical role that community members play in inculcating values in the children of their community. He reminded those gathered that it takes a village to raise a child.

To further shed light on the strengthening of police-community relations, the “Top Cop” referred to the official launch of the GPF Community Relations Department back in June, which is tasked with building and fostering a professional and collaborative partnership through positive engagement and public trust between the police and the community; and promoting safe communities by reducing the fear of crime, especially in vulnerable communities and among vulnerable groups.

In view of that, the Commander of Regional Division Seven Senior Superintendent Dion Moore, was instructed by the “Top Cop” to have the youths participate in sports activities, which would, in turn, help them move positively.

The commander was also charged with keeping the Drug Awareness Programme alive within the regional schools. The commissioner said it is a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Education.

In closing, Commissioner Hicken reminded residents of the importance of ‘community togetherness’, noting, ‘Live in love and harmony as a collective, and you will have a happy community,’ the commissioner urged the gathering.