Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken is assuring the public that accountability within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) remains a top priority, declaring that if all other channels for redress fail, citizens are welcome to bring their concerns directly to his office.
“If there’s an issue with members of the public… let me just assure you, if all the others fail, come to the Commissioner’s office, and I’m going to ensure it’s done,” Hicken said.
He emphasised that the Police Complaints Authority and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) remain essential oversight bodies, tackling breaches of standard operating procedures and ensuring the GPF remains accountable to the people it serves.
To further strengthen transparency and professionalism, the GPF is rolling out new technology—including body cameras for officers and the introduction of stun guns for less-lethal force options. According to Commissioner Hicken, these developments aim to improve conduct and boost public trust.
“You can see we’re improving the force through diversity. We’ve been putting up additional outposts. We’ve been filtering by the cameras for the policemen to ensure there’s transparency,” he added.
An ‘open-door policy’ is also being encouraged at all levels of the force—from Commissioner to Commanders, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and sub-division level—giving citizens greater access to voice concerns.
Despite reporting a dramatic reduction in crime, the Commissioner stressed there is more work to be done. According to the GPF, serious crimes are down by 88 per cent, murders have dropped by 63 per cent, armed robberies by 88 per cent, and burglaries and larceny have declined by 93 per cent.
To support these continued reforms, $34.4 billion was allocated in this year’s National Budget to improve the GPF’s visibility and responsiveness—an increase from the $30.3 billion allocated in 2024.
