– Police concerned about physical attacks on its members
The Guyana Police Force has warned against the constant attacks on its members by citizens.
In a statement the force, said it has noted a worrying trend of physical attacks on its members during the execution of their lawful duties by some members of the public.
According to the police review of video footage, as well as reports received from affected ranks, have revealed instances of citizens assaulting them, brandishing cutlasses, pieces of wood and other weapons at them, attempting to disarm them and such like.
Notably, all the attacks reviewed and reports received, comprise all the elements of a serious threat to life and safety of the law enforcement officers targeted, as well as persons within proximity, and in so doing render any action taken by the police to mitigate these threats as lawful.
“Be that as it may, it is fully evident that the targeted ranks consistently exercised significant restraint and as such exposed themselves and innocent civilians to serious injuries.
In consideration of this development, the Guyana Police Force is calling on members of the public, who may be tempted to carry out such actions, to refrain from doing so, as they would not only be in violations of the law, but can invoke life threatening consequences,” the statement read.
It added that consequences “we would wish to avoid as we continue to execute our mandate of preservation of the peace and prevention and detection of crime to the benefit of all law abiding citizens and Guyana as a whole.”
Meanwhile, despite its statement on Sunday a policeman assaulted two men at Pouderoyen, beating them to their faces with a beer bottle.
In a statement police said they are investigating the alleged wounding committed on Kester Norville, age 24 years, a porter who resides at Lot 55 Middle Street, Poudroyen, West Bank Demerara by an off duty Police Constable about 19:40 hours at the said Middle Street Poudroyen, West Bank Demerara.
According to the victim he was on the road-way in front of his home when he observed the suspect dealt a friend of his a lash to his face with a bottle. As a result, he intervened with a view of making but the policeman turned on him and dealt him several lashes about his head and body with the mentioned bottle, causing him to receive injuries to his head and hands. He was escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated and sent away.
The constable was subsequently contacted and had to be escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital due to injuires he too had received about his body, the police release stated.
Over the weekend another Constable 24030 Wilson was assaulted by Guyana Defence Force rank. The constable was at the time conducting anti-crime patrol duties at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge when he was attacked by the GDF rank at about 20:00h. While directing eastbound traffic, which contained of two lanes merged into one on the Meer-Zoorgen Public Road, Wilson observed a dark grey car trying to change lanes thereby causing congestion.
The Constable approached the driver who he subsequently discovered was a rank of the GDF. The Constable informed the Lance Corporal of the offence and instructed him to pull over to the corner of the road.
The Lance Corporal annoyed by the instruction, exited his car and “chucked the rank”. Despite warnings from Constable Wilson, the GDF rank continued to assault the him (Constable), choking and cuffing him about his face and body.
The Police Constable was assisted by colleagues who arrested the GDF rank.
Wilson was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated and sent away.
The GDF in a statement said the actions of the rank which was video recorded by onlookers and circulated on social media “are a direct contravention of the expected conduct of ranks.”
“All members of the GDF are subjected to the laws of Guyana and so the force stands ready to support the GPF in their investigations and expects that the soldier is held accountable for his actions,” the statement concluded.
The GDF rank has since been charged.
