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The time is ripe for an operational analysis of the Police Force

Sep 16, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is after careful consideration of a few matters that I am kindly seeking your permission to offer a few suggestions to the Minister of Public Security. First, I refer to the question of the undermanned Guyana Police Force. The PRO of the GPF claimed in a previous letter that the training facilities were all filled to capacity, which gave the impression that there were hundreds waiting to get into that institution.
I raise this because I cannot understand how the Minister is being told that there is a shortage and no one seems to have come up with an idea of how to accommodate more recruits annually. I had cause to respond to a former GPF Training Officer, who after pointless ramblings, failed to enlighten us as to his recruitment strategies while on the job. His reference to strategic management made me think that maybe, just maybe, no one at the top is taking that concept seriously.
I believe that the Minister and the entire government is being conned into believing that the GPF is on top of things.  I refuse to accept excuses for the Force’s failure to clamp down on the crime and traffic situation. In some countries the entire top brass would have been evaluated and shown the door if found wanting.
I cannot see why the time spent by recruits in residence at the training facilities cannot be shortened to – say three months. This can be done by rationalizing the curriculum and determining what core courses will be taught during three months to bring them up to operational capacity.  The recruits can then be deployed in the field under supervision for the next three months where they will be given practical training in police work.
What this means is that if we are to believe the PRO, another 330 should be entering the Force for their three-month residency training in the core courses when the initial batch is on field-training.  After the first 330 complete field exposure, they would then be brought back for their final evaluation before postings.
You may ask how these ranks will be equipped with knowledge of the remaining course. No brainer!!! By using the in-service training approach throughout their probationary period.  If this cycle is followed, there is no reason why the GPF should not be able to come near its required strength.  Blandly saying that the optimal strength would not be achieved because of attrition is an insult to our collective intelligence when there is no evidence that the Force even knows its annual rate of attrition.
Another striking thing is the commendable zeal of the new Traffic Chief, particularly his public education drive.  One thing that strikes me in all of this is the advice to pedestrians that they must ensure that they make eye contact with drivers before venturing across pedestrian crossing. I would like someone to advise me how I could make eye contact with an invisible driver who is in a vehicle with all the windows darkened.  Congratulations are in order.
Another bother is the rationale used to assign Divisional Command.  The former Traffic Chief who is an experienced Commander has been ignored in preference for a commander and his deputy, both with little policing experience at the ‘F’ Division. Speaking of which, whatever happened to President Granger’s declaration while in opposition that he expected the headquarters of the Interior Division to move to the interior come May 12?
Editor all that I am trying to say is that the Minister needs to commission an operational analysis of the GPF to provide an assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, while identifying improvement opportunities related to service delivery, its organization and staffing, as well as its management.
Edmund Syfox

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