Amid increasing allegations of corruption in the Guyana Police Force, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn today urged the Guyana Police Force to focus on integrity and to strive for greater improvements, as he addressed the Force’s 185^th Anniversary Awards Ceremony. 

Speaking to scores of Police officers this morning, Minister Benn challenged the Force to undergo continuous evaluation and introspection. He said notwithstanding various challenges, there must be continuous improvements at every level of the Guyana Police Force, aimed at improving security and crime reduction.  

“To reduce the issues of crime and violence, is what we expect of you. And we want the investments that we are making, in new buildings, in infrastructure, in equipment and other assets, that those have to be commensurate with the progress that we are making and so, I want to entreat you all today to keep focus on integrity, to keep focus on the questions of improvement both on the personal level, and at the level between yourself and squaddies, and under your command and also for yourself. This is what we need now, more than ever, more than ever,” Minister Benn told the officers present. 

Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, said the Guyana Police Force remains committed to the task. 

He said already, it is reaping the benefits of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, and continues to see a reduction in serious crimes. 

“We are currently enjoying, a reduction in serious crimes, -18.9%. This was contributed by the active presence of 361 community policing groups across the regional divisions; intelligence led policing such as crime mapping and predictive; use of drones, body cameras, CCTV to conduct real time surveillance and hotspot management among various crime prevention programmes,” the Police Commissioner (ag) said. 

As part of its crime fighting efforts, the Police Force said it seized a total of 73 firearms so far for this year, and has moved to establish an anti-terrorism unit as well as a strategic implementation unit with focus on reforms. 

Mr. Hicken said there has been a decline in serious crimes in the country, which he credits to the commitment of Police officers to maintain safety and security.

In recognition of their outstanding efforts in combating crime, a number of Police Officers were presented with monetary awards totaling millions of dollars.

Special recognition was given to officers who were involved in operations that led to the seizure of guns and ammunition, illicit drugs, and the arrest of suspected murderers, and the dismantling of human trafficking rings, among others. 

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