PROVIDING “TOTAL SECURITY” SHOULD NOW BE THE OBJECTIVE OF COMMUNITY POLICING GROUPS

Nov 17, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Yesterday’s tragic incidents at Chateau Margot, on the East Coast of Demerara, have exposed both the value and weaknesses of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in dealing with this new breed of crime in which bandits brandishing weapons are invading businesses and homes.
Community policing was not originally formed to deal with such crimes. Community policing in Guyana emerged at a time when criminals did not carry many weapons. It was a response to the inability of the Guyana Police Force to effectively man the various communities in Guyana and to try to deter certain forms of criminal activity by having a physical presence of members of a community patrolling certain areas.
Community policing has expanded in recent years, but so too has the heightening of security concerns in many areas. The nature of crime has also changed and therefore community policing is going to be confronted with more serious incidents of crime such as the one yesterday which left one businessman and one suspect dead.
In an environment where criminals are now brandishing weapons, there is great vulnerability in community policing. Most of their members would have only had limited training in dealing with armed criminals and therefore the risks to the members are increased.
This is why community policing cannot be a substitute for an effective police force. And despite the many efforts of the authorities to attract sufficient recruits into the Guyana Police Force, there remains a serious manpower shortage within the protective services of the state, both the police and the army.
There has to be a reason for this situation and it is strongly suggested that there are many persons who would be more than willing to join if there is greater flexibility in terms of the employment offered. But this is not happening and what we have is a situation whereby the criminal underworld is becoming more sophisticated while the traditional security services are struggling to keep up with these challenges.
One response has been the creation of community policing groups throughout the country. The government has provided support to these groups which have been involved in crime-fighting and detection.
The government must also now give serious consideration – where it is possible – to convert certain areas into gated communities. The size of such communities, zoning requirements and their isolation from other areas would be considerations in arriving at this decision. Creating gated communities would allow for greater security, especially in upper-end areas where residents would be able to come together and install high resolution cameras to monitor what is taking place.  We can have high-tech community policing in these areas.
The authorities should also give serious consideration to widening the participation of community policing and to creating networks among community policing groups. No longer should community policing be only about crime-watching, detection and interdiction. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring that community policing groups exercise greater control over their areas.
Patrols will obviously be necessary, but it is now imperative given the number of gun crimes for entire communities to be mobilized by their community policing leadership to provide “total security”.
Total security can see persons sitting in their homes with their cell phones observing what is taking place and alerting both the police and their community policing members to incidents and characters that arouse suspicion. Total security means that when criminals try to escape, neighbouring community policing groups can be called into action.
In some countries, every citizen becomes part of the community watch program. Not all have to leave their homes. Some can take spells and sit in their homes at nights while observing what is taking place. They can be in contact with a base unit which would relay possible threats to the official patrol which at all times should have a police rank present.
Community policing groups should now be provided with the technical support that they need to develop security plans, which would ensure the safety of members while respecting the rights and passage of others. A senior police officer should be assigned this responsibility.
It is also important to extend the concept of community policing to community work, to include social work such as identifying social and deviant behaviour and taking steps towards dealing with these problems. There can also be programs developed to help keep the young people away from bad influences. By widening the concept of community policing to these areas, there will be a number of benefits, including greater confidence and participation by the members of the community.
One of the big drawbacks of community policing is often the lack of support within communities. This can be alleviated by widening the scope of activities and involving more members in the many varied activities, all of which should be aimed at reducing criminal conduct and exercising greater control.
The police force should see community policing as a support mechanism and should work with these groups to help reduce crime, and who knows, perhaps as even a pool for new recruits.

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