Police have pushed back against claims they are unlawfully silencing protesters, saying three requests to use noisy instruments were refused to shield residents and businesses from undue disturbance.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said in a statement that several groups picketing in Georgetown over the past two weeks tried to use noisy instruments without the permission required under Section 12(1) of the Public Order Act, Chapter 16:03.

The statement did not name any group. It followed criticism of the force on Thursday after members of the GPF were accused by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) supporters of breaking up their protest.

The protesters were calling for the arrest of Spy Chief Prem Narine, who is accused of firing at Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, and for the release of Mohamed, who is being held in connection with the unauthorised release of CCTV footage of the shooting.

Officers intervened in the earlier picketing exercises and educated protesters, many of whom claimed ignorance of the law, on the requirements for using amplification or noise-making equipment at public events.

Three applications were submitted to the Chief Officer of Police before Thursday's protest. Under Section 12, the Chief Officer has discretion to assess whether such equipment in a given location would cause undue disruption. The GPF said each application was carefully reviewed in line with statutory procedure.

All three were denied. The Chief Officer determined that use of the equipment in the proposed areas would have caused significant disturbance to surrounding residents and businesses and would be contrary to the public good.

The GPF said it remains committed to upholding the right to peaceful protest but must balance that right against the community's right to go about daily life without unreasonable disruption.

It said the denials were made strictly within the law to preserve public order and community tranquillity.

The GPF urged organisers and interest groups to familiarise themselves with the laws governing public order and to follow the statutory application process.