Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie said the Guyana Police Force’s Strategic Management Plan is aimed at creating a more modern, accountable and professional body but there are those ranks who are bent on besmirching the good name of the organisation and 47 of them are currently before the Courts on criminal charges.
“The Guyana Police Force has a lot of dedicated and professional men and women who do their job with pride, they are genuine and ably assist members of public with their requests for service and protection; admittedly there are a few who display deviant behaviour but once found out they are dealt with accordingly,” Commissioner Hoppie said on Thursda.
At the time, he was delivering his address during the opening ceremony of the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference at the National Cultural Centre.
It was during his address, that the Police Commissioner disclosed that the Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility received 193 complaints in 2020 against ranks compared to 303 in 2019.
“The force continues to take condign actions against ranks whose behavior and actions are found not to be consistent to the discipline and ethics and will continue to charge those found culpable either departmentally or criminally as warranted,” the Police Commissioner said. On that note, he disclosed that 47 police ranks are currently before the Courts on criminal charges.
He said the use of force continues to be a contentious issue coupled with the attitude of some members of the Police Force towards the public, and those who engage in corrupted activities, negatively impacting the public’s trust and confidence in the Force.
These issues, the Police Commissioner said, are actively being addressed. “We have been dealing with such issues through the Office of Professional Responsibility which has been decentralized to all policing division for greater effect,” Commissioner Hoppie said.
He said notwithstanding the challenges that surfaced in 2020, the Guyana Police Force rose to the occasion and executed its mandate utilizing all of its resources.
“The Guyana Police Force was able to provide adequate security during the General and Regional Elections, as well as the transition of the new Government. Our collaborative effort with other members of the Joint Services in our continuing effort on the frontline in our fight against the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic have been significant and should not go on notice,” he told those present.
Forging ahead, he said the Police Force will continue to place significant focus on Security Reform – a process aimed at enhancing its effectiveness and accountability, while operating in accordance with Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
He said the Police Force is actively taking steps to improve public trust and confidence by ensuring greater integrity among its members.
In keeping with its Strategic Management Plan, the Guyana Police Force is focusing on five primary areas including people, partnership, performance and infrastructure.
That plan has thus far resulted in the remodeling and refurbishing of 12 Police Stations across Guyana along with the construction of a new Police Station at Parfaite Harmonie. Six other stations are undergoing upgrade.
According to the Police Commissioner, the institutional modernization of the Guyana Police Force is moving a pace. On that note, he expressed appreciation to the Government for its show of confidence in the Force.
President Irfaan Ali, who charged the Force to reposition, restructure and rebrand; Prime Minister, Mark Phillips and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn were among the officials present during the opening ceremony of the conference.
In keeping with the theme of the conference – “Enhancing Professionalism, Police Community Relations and Confidence through Continuous Security Sector Reform and Partnerships” – the police officers have been tasked with reviewing and analyzing the performance of the Force with the aim of developing strategies to confront future challenges.
The conference will come to an end on Saturday.
