Police ramp up security for holiday season

Police will enhance security in the city during the holiday season

With the holiday period fast approaching, the Guyana Police Force has unveiled a comprehensive security plan aimed at safeguarding both residents and visitors throughout Georgetown. Region 4A, a zone that stretches from Cummings Lodge to Agricola and accounts for a substantial share of the city’s crime and traffic activity, will be at the centre of the enhanced operation.
Speaking at the official launch of the Force’s Christmas policing initiative on Friday, Commander Simon McBean outlined an intensified deployment strategy that will place 507 ranks on duty each day. These officers will support a total of 207 patrols, which include 249 traffic units and 258 anti-crime teams.
Technology will also form part of this year’s efforts. Drone patrols are expected to be used daily, depending on operational needs, to provide additional surveillance in high-risk or difficult-to-monitor areas.
The plan features a mix of patrol types to maintain visibility and quick response times across the capital. These include daily bicycle patrols during shopping hours, motorcycle patrols running from morning to midnight, and 24-hour motor vehicle and maritime units.
Commander McBean noted that patrols will pay special attention to commercial and public spaces such as markets, Regent and Robb Streets, shopping malls, banks, the seawall, post offices, hotels, recreational areas, and shipping agencies.
Alongside increased boots on the ground, the Force intends to use smart policing tactics, place greater emphasis on traffic enforcement, and enforce tighter controls on entertainment and public events. Reducing noise nuisance will also be part of the seasonal operation.
“While we will allow persons to enjoy the festive season, we will also ensure that noise does not affect others,” McBean said.
Members of the public are being urged to take simple precautions during the busy season, including staying alert, limiting cash transactions, dressing down, and ensuring purchases are kept out of sight in vehicle trunks.
Additional measures for the holidays include more day and night patrols, the establishment of temporary police booths in key commercial areas, targeted deployments in hotspots, and briefing sessions with business owners on improving customer safety.
Security at ports of entry, including the airports, will also be strengthened, and new police recruits will join the seasonal operations.
Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, said the expanded use of drones and increased police presence form part of a wider strategy to ensure the season remains safe and enjoyable for all.
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken added that the increased visibility should offer reassurance to the public, remarking that with the enhanced measures in place, citizens “can expect to be free of fear because everywhere you turn you will be seeing police.”