More British support for police within Security Sector Reform

May 17, 2008 News

In support of the Government of Guyana’s programme of Security Sector Reform (SSR), the British High Commission will soon deliver further training and equipment to the Guyana Police Force. This constitutes some of the immediate steps agreed to between the two governments within the policing component of the SSR action plan.

Intelligence Gathering

Within the context of the Crime Intelligence Section of the SSR Action Plan:
Binoculars and cameras are now available for the use of the Criminal Intelligence Unit;
A data processing and management computer system has been installed at the Force Control Unit, which will allow the Force to access Guyana Revenue Authority’s vehicles data-base;

Following a visit by UK police intelligence officers in March, a range of recommendations are under discussion with the GPF, and training is expected to take place over the next few months.
Rapid response

In the context of the rapid response sections of the SSR Action Plan:

GPS navigation and night vision equipment is now available for the use of the Tactical Service Unit;
In addition, body armour for the protection of ranks against high-calibre weapons has been procured and will arrive shortly;

A range of recommendations from a unit of the Metropolitan Police from their visit in March are also now being discussed with the GPF, and training is expected to take place over the next few months.
Police/Community relations
In terms of building better police/community relations:
A Memorandum of Understanding to help guide the strengthening of police-media relations has now been drafted, following a Police-Media workshop that was held earlier this year, and is being considered by the parties involved;
Four public service announcements to begin to help strengthen the relationship between the police and the public are being developed, and should be broadcast on television before the end of the month;
The GPF and the High Commission are discussing a range of recommendations from a visit by a UK police expert on media relations, and a visit by an officer with oversight experience on building capacity in the Office of Professional Responsibility;
The High Commission will support the “crimestoppers” initiative through the funding of a public information campaign.
Earlier assistance
Other support for the police component of the action plan included a new and expanded Criminal Intelligence Unit which has been set up and equipped with computers and other office equipment. Computers, printers and office furniture were also given to the Operations Room at the Brickdam Police Station, along with telephones that indicate incoming calls, complete with headsets. These were also given to stations in all divisions. On traffic policing, fifty radar guns were given to the Police Force. There was a training workshop for ranks on the 911 emergency switchboard and those who man the emergency telephone lines at other stations. In addition, guidance was given on the creation of a new criminal intelligence model.
Background
The four-year SSR Action Plan follows an agreement between the two governments for the British Government to provide support to the Government of Guyana’s comprehensive Security Sector Reform in Guyana.
In October 2007 a team of security reform experts from Ghana, Sierra Leone, South Africa and India visited Guyana to build on the work done to date, and to advise on a way forward. It was following these engagements that the SSR Action Plan was crafted and an interim MoU for its implementation signed in August 2007.
The SSR Action Plan is closely aligned to the Citizen Security and Justice Reform programmes and is designed to:
Build the operational capacity of the Guyana Police Force, from the provision of a uniformed response to serious crime, to forensics, crime intelligence and traffic policing;
Strengthen policy-making across the security sector to make it more transparent, effective, and better co-ordinated;
Create substantial parliamentary and other oversight of the security sector;
Mainstream financial management in the security sector into public sector financial management reform;
Build greater public participation and inclusiveness on security sector issues.
Following a National Stakeholder Forum by the Government in February, agreement was reached to set up a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Crime and Security.

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