Training commences to assist police prosecutors in detecting TIP cases

Apr 01, 2017 News

The Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has embarked on a training exercise for police prosecutors on the issue of trafficking in persons (TIP).
The exercise commences today at the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s Training College, with the aim of raising awareness of TIP issues and to assist police prosecutors in detecting these cases.
Those who are expected to speak at the event include Force Training Officer, Paul Williams; Ministry of Public Security Task Force Coordinator (ag) Oliver Profitt; Head of the Major Crimes Unit, Mitchell Caesar; Probation and Social Services Officer, Denise Ralph; Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Diana O’Brien and Immigration Officers who received INTERPOL training.
At the commencement of the programme, the police prosecutors will be given a brief introduction and the role and responsibility of the Ministerial Task Force on TIP.
The GPF’s role in combating TIP will be highlighted and attendees will be given tips in identifying victims and what assistance is required when they are in contact with these victims.
Kaieteur News was informed that the prosecutors will be enlightened about the services available for TIP victims so that when faced with these cases, they will know how to guide and advise victims.
Only recently the Ministry of Social Protection said that it is seeing an increase in the number of reported TIP cases being made to the GPF, and this is as a result of the sensitization and continuous education programmes being placed on the issue.
It was revealed that in 2014 there were 40 identified victims, 59 the following year, and 98 in 2016. It is believed that these cases are being reported to the police, mainly because of the heightened awareness and education campaign by the government.
Over the years, government has demonstrated its commitment to counter trafficking in human beings as well as the smuggling of migrants through the adoption and implementation of legislation and international treaties relevant to human rights and the movement of persons across borders.
In 2005, Guyana passed the Combating of Trafficking in Person Act in the National Assembly which is in line with the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish persons caught engaging in trafficking human beings.
It defines trafficking in persons as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or a position of vulnerability, or by the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

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