TOP COP launches another Police/Community initiative in Berbice

Commissioner of Police (Ag) Seelall Persaud accompanied by Commander of Police ‘B’ Division Brian Joseph and a team of Senior Officers on Saturday visited the community of Bath, West Coast Berbice where they conducted a walk about and held a meeting with residents of that community and nearby villages.

Commissioner of Police (Ag) Seelall Persaud addressing some West Berbice residents

The meeting which was held at the Bath Community Centre was organized to launch another of the Police Force countrywide “Social Crime Prevention Program” which has seen success in other parts of the country, such as Albouystown. Commissioner Persaud said that the “Social Crime Prevention” programme is recognizing that crime is a social problem… and the police are pulling out all the stops by employing different methods to help tackle the problem. It might not be eradicated totally, but could be reduced drastically, with the help of the community.” The Social Crime Prevention programmes was started to address crime at the root causes. Persaud said that nobody is born as a criminal, but “somewhere between when a child is born and the time he commits his first crime, he becomes a criminal. The situation could be remedied if the right methods are employed. Society has a lot to do with what happens between that time and even after. Influences can make people change to good or bad.” During his discourse, he stated that from all reports Bath is not a bad community, but the police cannot sit down and wait for things to happen.

This resident managed to get special attention from the Acting Top Cop.

“Prevention starts before infection. We do not want to sit down and then wait until the community is infected then make a move. No, that is not how it should be done. We have to engage to prevent.” The Top Cop said, “Sometimes we have to anticipate what might happen and put preventative measures in place. We want to believe that if we do not engage, things will not continue the same way it is today, because life is never ever constant, thing always changes.” “In days gone by no one knew about Internet, Television and Cell phones and simple messages use to take days, weeks and months to reach its destinations, but now messages can be transmitted in mere seconds.” He stated that the “Social Crime Prevention Program” is not a talk shop but is guaranteeing the residents that the Police mean business. He challenged the residents to get on board and be a part of the initiative, assuring that the police will work along with them in all aspects- be it education, sports, culture or first aid. The Commissioner stated that if people are meaningfully occupied or engaged, the drug pushers would not have the opportunity to get hold of them. The Commissioner and Commander then fielded questions from members of the community, during which time a number of issues were raised concerning problems the community is having with the police. Among the issues raised was the slow response to reports. A follow up meeting is planned for this week.