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We have to hit the panic button

Sep 16, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
With reference to your editorial caption ‘Crime and Intelligence’ dated September 13, 2013 in which you attempted to show the importance of intelligence gathering in respect to modern day policing and its importance in reducing the incidence of crime. The fear of crime is on the mind of every good citizen and if it’s one robbery or murder per month or year, we have to hit the panic button. Unfortunately, the statement by Commissioner of Police was the wrong choice of words to my mind.
An increase in crime, especially armed robberies and murders and with the type of guns that are being used to commit such criminal act, is a need to hit the panic bottom. Furthermore, the criminals are more open that they commit their crime with impunity. To this end the police have to adopt a more proactive approach when it comes to intelligence gathering.
The metropolitan countries have used the term Community Policing to highlight that aspect of policing to create a link within the community because they believe that the police have lost that personal contact within the community. Furthermore, they only change the name for reasons best known to them but the fundamental aspects of policing remain the same.
The problem in Guyana is that the citizens have lost confidence in the police and they see the police as one that cannot be trusted. Guyana has had Community Policing long before the 1980’s and in my view it was present since when Police Officers patrolled the various districts either on foot, horse and bicycles. During this time, the police officers were familiar with all the residents by names and aliases. Today, with the increase in mobile patrols, one will see the police driving with air-condition on, windows up and they are totally removed from the community. There is no good morning or good afternoon coming from the police and as a result, that important link, which is required for better community relationship, has dissipated.
Intelligence led policing was with the Force from its inception and is nothing new to policing. This phase was implemented in the metropolitan countries due to their modernization technique in intelligence gathering. There is nothing to adopt in my view since the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has long used that strategy from its inception. My view is that the modern day police have failed miserably by not following the fundamental principles in policing.
Over forty years ago, one will see police officers while on foot patrol duty stop by the village shop and have conversations with shopkeepers and customers; they might even have a drink with persons. Traditionally, village shops are a very good source of information or intelligence. The Postman, who delivered our daily mail is another source, he knows everyone in the district in which he delivers mail. School teachers are another very good source since children usually make comments about what happened within their community. Informants are another good source for the police in solving crime. What might be happening now is that information which was prevalent from informants is no longer forthcoming due to many reasons.
There might be a need for the GPF to work with other agencies to widen their intelligence gathering capabilities in order to be more proactive in solving crimes.
Morris Springer

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