TOP COP MEETS WITH COMMUNITY POLICING EXECUTIVES AND MEMBERS
— underscores important Role of Community Policing Group, CPG., in fighting Crime, and fostering safer Communities.
Community Policing is an integral part of Public Safety, and Security Architecture. It is closely aligned with the Guyana Police Force’s Crime-fighting Machinery while helping to form, and strengthen a significant Link between the Police and the Community.
Thursday Morning, January 26th, 2023, Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr Clifton Hicken met with Representatives of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) across the Ten (10) Administrative Regions of Guyana. The Meeting was aimed at, among other things, injecting the Body with more vigour, a new Vision, and a purposeful Strategy as part of it’s essential Role in assisting the Guyana Police Force in not only the Fight against Crime, but Community-oriented Engagement in efforts to connect with Residents of the Communities throughout Guyana meaningfully.
Top Cop Mr. Hicken, along with Senior Members of the GPF, among them Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Mr Calvin Brutus, Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Mr Ravindradat Budhram, Head of Special Branch Assistant Commissioner Mr Errol Watts, and Deputy Commanders of the 12 Regional Police Divisions, and other Senior and Junior Officers of the GPF, met with the Community Policing Executives and Members at Police Officers’ Mess Annexe at Eve Leary, Georgetown.
Commissioner Mr.Hicken, during his passionate Address to the CPG Members gathered, highlighted the important Role that the Body plays in the Force’s operational aspect.
“The Community Policing Group is a structured Partnership intertwined into the Operations of the Guyana Police Force,” Mr Hicken posited.
As such, the Top Cop outlined the Police Force’s Plan for CPG and made Several “on-the-Spot” Decisions that will ensure the Police, and CPG Members in the various Regions have a better working Relationship in order to execute their Duties, and Mandate more efficiently, and effectively at all Levels.
Some of the Decisions taken by the Top Cop, and his Team, and which are to take immediate effect, are to have:-
1) Deputy Commanders, who are the Regional CPG Coordinators, in consultation with the Commanders, must establish a Community Policing Desk at all Sub-Divisional Headquarters.
2) Station Sergeants must have Weekly Meetings and Training with the CPG Ranks.
3) Sub-Divisional Officers must have Fortnightly Meetings with the Station Sergeants, and CPG Ranks.
4) Deputy Commanders are now required to hold Monthly coordinated Meetings with all Groups in their Division prior to the Monthly briefing with Commissioner.
5) Each Police Division must form Two new Policing Groups in each Sub-Division before the next Monthly Meeting.
In addition to these Decisions, Firearm, Logistics, and Training in other pertinent Areas will be provided by the Police Force for Members of the Policing Groups to enhance their operational Capabilities.
While the Meeting was centred primarily on the way forward, and resolving the Issues affecting the Community Policing Groups Countrywide, Commissioner Mr. Hicken alluded that the Partnership is about reducing Crime, and making the Communities more conducive for all.
Commissioner Mr. Hicken emphasized the importance of working with all Stakeholders and stated: “We are not going to work in isolation, as a contemporary Police Force, we will work with, not only the CPG, but with all the Partners we can have.”
The Top Cop further underscored the importance of these Partnerships, and how they can help create a safer Environment throughout Guyana. “What we are trying to achieve here through this Partnership Effort, is to have safer Communities, so that our Children can grow in an Environment that is conducive for them, to achieve their full potential,” Commissioner Mr. Hicken declared.
The Meeting was very candid, and CPG Executives and Members were allowed to freely express any Issues, or Concerns affecting their respective Community Policing Group, or Representative Groupings.
(Report/Photos by Corporal Avindra Rajballi and Corporal Troy Vanrossum).
