THE CRIME DETECTION RATE IS ABYSMALLY LOW

Sep 01, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
No one can genuinely deny that we continue to face a crisis when it comes to law enforcement. Although the detection rate for serious crimes is only one of a number of factors to indicate whether we are winning the war against crime, it can be used to assess our status in the fight and what are our chances of success.
As it stands right now, the detection rate is abysmally low and despite all the silly talk from the Minister of Home Affairs, the situation remains one of serious concern.
The average detection rate for murder for the period January to June 2014 is 14 per cent. For the same period last year, the detection rates for wounding and shootings, general larceny and larceny of motor vehicles were 14 per cent, 8.4 per cent and six per cent respectively. The overall average detection rate for serious crimes was 20 per cent. We want the Minister to know that these figures are dismally low and cannot be considered acceptable and even the most crafty PPP spin doctor would find it impossible to convert this glaring security failure into a modest success story. Yet, the Minister of Home Affairs has been telling the nation that he has a plan to solve crime but after more than six years on the job, he has not produced any. Mr. Rohee and Mr. Gagraj, are considered the two worst Ministers of Home Affairs in the history of Guyana.
That having been said, the focus must be to overcome the challenges faced by those involved in any aspect of law enforcement. Of course the Police Force would be the first and most important institution that must be analyzed. Public trust is badly lacking in the Force and the Minister of Home Affairs must work with the Commissioner of Police and other senior officers to implement measures to restore public trust and confidence in the Police Force and reduce crime. Let’s face it, the Police Force is rotten to its core and nothing can be done to reform it. A new Police Force is needed.
It is unfortunate that the rogue cops in the Police Force have clouded the outstanding work of hundreds of dedicated officers who remained committed to their oaths and have performed commendably. It is for that reason that all efforts should be made to remove the rogue elements in the Force, recruit new officers and pay them decent wages.
Yet another challenge in law enforcement is the great disconnect among the major players involved in gathering information and sharing intelligence. It is no doubt that there is technology that allows intelligence to be obtained from several institutions that have been given the requisite capacity to do so, but without clear channels and protocols in place to manage and disseminate such intelligence, there is no pro-active approach to prevent crimes.
With all the money that has been committed over the years to purchase equipment to fight crime and all the scientific methods that can be used to prevent criminal activity and solve crimes, there is really no justifiable excuse for the lack of progress over the last five years. During this time, important data about criminal activity, such as gangs and gang operations, drug lords and international drug suppliers were collected but not properly used to prevent criminal activities which continue to increase.
The long and short of the story of law enforcement in Guyana is that the country is way behind some of its counterparts in the Caribbean and it is time for those in charged for providing security to step up. Innocent and hardworking citizens are murdered almost every day by thugs and yet the Minister of Home Affairs continues to act as if what is happening is normal. He does not know how to run a ministry properly and effectively and how to solve crime. All he knows is to use the state owned NCN TV to hurl insults at those who oppose him. Simply put, he is incompetent.
Name supplied

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