President wants police ranks ‘out of the station and involved in the community’

Complaints by residents of Albertown and Queenstown on Friday prompted an immediate directive from President Irfaan Ali for police ranks to be more involved in the community and responsive to citizens’ concerns.

During an engagement with residents of the Georgetown communities, Dr. Ali was told that ranks from the Albertown Police Station have not been active in their duties.

Residents say they are usually sent away, redirected to the Brickdam Police Station (Divisional Headquarters) or told to call 911 when direct calls are placed to the Albertown Police Station.

“What’s going on there?” the President immediately asked of the Officer in Charge, Anthonio Fredericks.

To that he responded, “That’s not the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure.”

In turn, an angered Dr. Ali asked Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon McBean to investigate and address the matter.

Residents complained that robberies are committed in increasingly large numbers with little to no protection from the police.

“Most of the robberies are reported and nothing comes out of the matter… when you call the station for a police to come they say you have to call Brickdam or report it to 911,” one resident stated.

It was after the President ordered an independent investigation at the station level that residents decried the police’s response.

“What we have to do is take the police out of the station and get them involved in the community,” Dr. Ali told residents.

Dr, Ali said the Guyana Police Force was provided with a number of bikes and this should not be occurring.

He said roving police ranks should be on the road all the time and are tasked with being responsive.

He said if calls are being bounced then that is a serious concern.

Dr. Ali asked the Commander to ensure that aggressive work is done in the communities and also pitched the idea of setting up containerized outposts at key locations.