Top Cop assures nation of safe Christmas

Police Commissioner, Leslie James has assured citizens that they will be afforded a safe Christmas period through the effective implementation of the Christmas policing plan which was unveiled last month.

“From the feedback we’ve been getting, everything is going well so far. So I wish to assure the nation that we will have a safe Christmas,” the Top Cop told officers at the annual Police Officers’ Christmas Breakfast at Eve Leary on Wednesday.

Boasting a reduction of 11.1% in serious crimes, the Top Cop also said the situation “is not a gloom and doom.”

He reported that while the year commenced with some issues, there has been a “marked decrease in our serious crimes.”

According to the Commissioner, to date, there have been 228 reports of serious crimes compared to 289 in 2017.

Based on the last crime statistics released by the Guyana Police Force in September, there has been a 22% increase in robberies where no instruments were used; a 3% decrease in robbery under arms where firearms were used and a 20 % decrease in robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used.

As it relates to robbery with violence, there has been a 4% increase; a 36% decrease in robbery with aggravation and a 13% decrease in larceny from the person.

Assuring that the police force is in good hands, the recently appointed Top Cop reminded the ranks of the need to remain professional when conducting their duties.

“We will not spare any effort to discipline any rank,” he noted.

Commissioner James also outlined that efforts are ongoing to restore the training and the promotion boards and install a traffic advisory board.

Steps are also being taken to revise some aspects of the Force’s Standing Orders he said as “some of these orders appear to be archaic.”

Present at the simple occasion were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.