Georgetown: Come next year, Police Stations across Guyana are expected to be equipped with at least one vehicle as the Guyana Police Force will be receiving a number of vehicles and boats with a US multi-million dollar grant given by a foreign mission.
This was disclosed by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud on Saturday at the Force’s Tactical Drill Square, Eve Leary, where the Passing-Out Parade was held for 136 new ranks.
The Police Force have come in for much criticism over the lack of vehicular resources, and in some cases river transportation, which have been the core cause of ranks often being unable to respond effectively to reports. In very many cases citizens are forced to go to Stations and pick up officers to take to crime scenes.
However, the Commissioner noted that with the Force’s budgetary allocations coupled with the grant, this will no longer be an issue. “We are likely to see a great boost in our transportation capacity, so much so that every Police Station will have a vehicle, and/or boat, to conduct patrols as appropriate,” he revealed.
According to Persaud, this is expected to be realised by the end of 2016. When asked about specifics by the media of the funding, the Top Cop explained that the money was promised by a foreign delegation in Guyana. However, the Commissioner opted not disclose which of the foreign missions will be giving the fund until the promise is realised.
He went on to say the Police have done all that was needed in the process, adding that the acquisition process of the vehicles may have commenced already.
Over the past year or so, the GPF have been working assiduously to improve its relationship with the public and with this boost in transportation, its efforts are expected to be realised. Additionally, the Police have been engaged in various social crime prevention programmes as well as working along with faith-based organisations to help victims and their families to recover.
Moreover, the Top Cop pointed out that the aim of the social crime prevention programme is to prevent young Guyanese from getting involved in criminal activities, while showing those who are already involved, a path towards a better life.
While crime may still be rampant in the country and is currently pegged at some nine per cent, the Police Commissioner noted that serious crime has been below the record figure experienced in 2013.
“We have been all year below 2013 and we can’t say with any level of confidence that A cause this or B cause this… But there are some economic factors and social factors that have impacted it,” he outlined.
In the monthly statistic update, the Police disclosed that by the end of September a 10 per cent increase in serious crimes was recorded when compared to the same period in 2014.
A total of 114 murders were recorded, representing an increase of five per cent at the end of September. Robbery under arms saw an overall increase of three per cent during the same period, with gun-related robberies rising to four per cent, and robberies with other instruments grew by one per cent.
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