NEWLY sworn in Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, has outlined the way forward for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in 2025, which will see the force introducing stricter measures to ensure ranks are equipped and better able to do their job.

Commissioner Hicken who delivered remarks at the Regional Division Four ‘A’ Christmas Luncheon and Awards ceremony, announced that 2025 will see several changes happening within the Police Force.

These changes will aid ranks in being better able to get their jobs done efficiently. One of the first things the Commissioner highlighted was that in 2025, the GPF will provide ranks with academic support to pursue different levels of education: diplomas, degrees, and first graduate certifications.

He noted that the Force has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Association (MoAs) with the University of Guyana, Nations University, among other academic institutions in Guyana, along with various ministries and non-government organisations (NGOs).

Commissioner Hicken made mention of the recently announced collaborative initiative between Guyana and India, where police officers in Guyana will receive specialised training to enhance their skills and efficiency.

The Guyana Chronicle reported earlier this month that the partnership between the two nations will focus on areas such as forensic science, investigative techniques, and modern policing methods.

Earlier in December, the Government of Guyana announced its collaboration with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in India to train and equip local police officers in NFSU-certified investigative techniques, forensic science, cyber-security and forensic psychology.

Moreover, Commissioner Hicken also stated that come next year, more will be done to fix broken systems within the Police Force.

The Top Cop highlighted that, in 2025, focus will be placed heavily on traffic ranks, and the patrol ranks.
He said: “We have the Command Centre. We recognise that we are serving crime from the Command Centre; and so, we move the Command Centre to the Regions. Region Three, Region Five, Region Six, I think that is completed, and the other regions are building.”

Commissioner Hicken continued, “We are moving from a Command Centre to a safe country, and when we reach the safe country stage, traffic ranks, patrol ranks will have to adjust.”

While condemning the behaviour of traffic and patrol ranks while on duty, the Commissioner said in 2025 the GPF will ‘double down’ and fix what is wrong within the organisation.

“We are being paid to work and so, despite we have the Christmas season, we must work and ensure that there is no crime, there are no accidents. We have to work,” he added.

Commissioner Hicken told ranks that while there are many events coming up, ranks will have a lot to deal with, including the upcoming general elections in 2025.

In his address, he told the ranks that as 2024 comes to a close, and as they head into the New Year, to remain focused on what they need to do, what they are being paid to do and to remember their training and to not lose track of what is ahead.