Targeting organised and violent crime is one of the current key focuses of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), according to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.
Speaking on the third episode of the programme Safeguarding Our Nation, which was aired yesterday, Blanhum delved into issues surrounding crime prevention and building public trust.
He outlined the GPF’s sharpened focus on what he described as the “Three Cs”: crime prevention, community presence, and collaboration.
Blanhum highlighted that most serious crimes are committed by a small group of repeat offenders, and that the GPF’s approach is increasingly focused on identifying hotspots, building community intelligence, and preventing incidents before they occur.
“Crime today is dominated by disorderly murders, property related offences, excessive alcohol consumption, drug trafficking–particularly at border locations, domestic violence, and cybercrime,” he related.
“These trends guide our priorities. The reality is that most of the crimes are committed by a small minority of the population, and that is why most of our attention is focused on key offenders and hotspots,” the Crime Chief added.
It was highlighted that while the statistics show a decrease in violent crimes, many still feel unsafe.
“I think there are three reasons for this perception gap: every crime, no matter how rare, has a real victim and those stories spread faster than statistics. In a small society like Guyana, every incident feels closer to home; high profile incidents such as a shooting or robbery stay in people’s minds and they overshadow the progress we have made. We as police must do more in showing the public what has been occurring behind the scenes,” Blanhum said.
The Crime Chief stressed that while fear may not always match the numbers, strategic policing efforts are being targeted at the right places, with the right tools.
Additionally, Blanhum shared that the GPF has increased deployment across all crime-prone areas, to ensure that criminal elements do not take advantage of vulnerable people within communities.
He further urged members of the public to stay vigilant, share concerns with police, and avoid spreading misinformation, noting that the GPF is listening and working, and won’t stop until every Guyanese feels safe.
Increasing visibility, community awareness, and public awareness programmes are methods aimed at urging people to desist from misleading information, Blanhum said.
The Crime Chief stressed that by working together, members of the public and police can close the gap between perception and reality.
He cited that collaborations continue with community groups as well as international partners to tackle organised crime threats, noting too that youth are engaged in crime prevention activities.
