SWAT team unnecessary - former Top Cop

SWAT team unnecessary – former Top Cop

Oct 08, 2013 News

Shadow Minister of Home Affairs and former Police Commissioner, Winston Felix, is not persuaded that the intended special unit –the SWAT team–will have any effect on the current crime situation. SWAT is the acronym for Strategic Weapons and Tactics. Felix is convinced that Guyana has not reached a state where a SWAT team is necessary and is concerned that not only will the unit utilize much needed finances and manpower, but like past poorly managed specialized units, it could “become wayward.” The former Top Cop said that several years ago the SWAT initiative was introduced during the crime spree, and although it was more appropriate then, he was not mindful for the commissioning of the team, “since none of the incidents attracting SWAT response escalated to armed intervention.” He said that the SWAT team is not a highly or heavily armed patrol group, but one that is constantly trained and upped with the latest crime fighting gadgets for incidents that require decisive tactical skills. “A SWAT Team is better prepared during periods of inactivity. They get into training because the skills they need have to be constantly upgraded, and so I see it as being very expensive with little utilities in these parts at this time.” He added that, “What is absolutely necessary for this current situation is for the government to recognize that the police force is losing manpower.” Felix explained that it was already pointed out to the government that senior officers were attaining the age of 55 and were retiring, while young officers were leaving the force within a short space of time. He continued that the issue of manpower was one of primary focus in the Security Section Action Reform Programme. The APNU parliamentarian continued, “The nature of a SWAT Team is one to have; but in Guyana’s context the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) can do the job that is required now. The TSU has been dealing with armed criminals for years and it has succeeded.” It was the TSU that played a pivotal role in clearing roads on the East Coast of Demerara during unrest in that region; devised plans and executing them for an acceptable outcome. In incidents where persons were killed during that unrest, Felix insisted that it could stand up to scrutiny. “We have not had a problem with the TSU. From a force that is short of manpower, they have to find manpower from that same force to form the SWAT Team. And to make them look relevant they will have to underutilize them, because the circumstances under which they should be utilized do not appear here (in Guyana) regularly. We have had kidnappings and carjackings, but none have reached the stage where we needed armed intervention.” Felix reiterated that the government needs to check manpower wastage in the force and added that they should develop the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and provide resources to the various stations so that the issue of quick response could be addressed. “The government generally needs to address training with the force; so to say that a SWAT Team would have influence on the crime situation would be a fallacy.” Felix also touched on the issue of managing the SWAT Team. “Unless a SWAT Team would be under sole management and supervision of the police I am not enthusiastic about it because it can be misused. “ He said, “The Target Special Squad was used and we know who were using them and for what purpose. We don’t want to see another specialized unit becoming wayward.” He charged that unless any SWAT is established under proper control by the Commissioner of Police and if I can’t have that guarantee, I won’t support it because we know what is likely to happen and we should not allow these -instances to repeat itself after every five or 10 years.” “We don’t want another Target Special Squad. They ran wildly, they were undisciplined and corrupt.” Other stakeholders have also shared their views on the establishment of the SWAT Team. Some say an effective SWAT relies on an effective Criminal Intelligence Unit with prompt response capabilities. It was further mentioned that a SWAT Team is a reactive unit of highly trained and professional persons. Suggestions are that the best of the nation’s security forces should be recruited, while special attention should be paid to the manner in which the team should be managed.

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SWAT team unnecessary – former Top Cop

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