Police Commanders Hold Emergency Conference

THE Police command has held an emergency meeting in Accra to review the activities and operations of the service during the year.

Monday's meeting was also used to review plans and strategies to combat crime during the Christmas festivities and in the coming year".

It was attended by the regional and divisional commanders, crime officers and other high ranking officers from the Police Headquarters.

In an address, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dr. K.K Manfo, said the Police Service is determined to flush out criminals to make the country safe for its citizens and for investors.

He said the regional commanders have been charged to undertake operations involving the use of plain clothed personnel on vulnerable roads, market places and entertainment spots to nip the activities of criminals in the bud.

In brief remarks to open the meeting, the Inspector General of Police, Patrick Acheampong said the meeting was to review the plans agreed upon this year and exchange ideas on ways to fight violent crime during the Christmas and the coming year.

He said that it was customary for the police to suspend all leave and deploy all available personnel during the Christmas season.

Interior Minister, Albert Kan Dapah said this year has been a very challenging year for the Police service but expressed the hope that despite the challenges, they would be more determined to discharge their duties.

National Security Minister Francis Poku and the Deputy Defence Minister William Boafo commended the Police for their good performance over the years and assured them of their respective ministries support in combating crime in the country.

Explaining the rationale for the meeting to Times Dr. Manfo said that the Police had received calls from the public about robbery cases being committed "and we deemed it fit to meet and plan to combat such crimes, especially during the Christmas season."

Dr. Manfo said although the Police Administration normally meets close to the end of the year, "this very meeting was held early to re-strategise in view of the public outcry about robbery cases among other crimes.

"While we call for public support in the fight against crime, we want to warn criminals to give up crime because we will do all what it takes to bring them to book," he stressed.

Dr. Manfo said that with the help of the military and other security agencies, the police have been able to wage war on armed robbers which has effectively reduced the spate of violent crime.

He also attributed the reduction to proactive measures put in place, including intelligence gathering, cultivation of information, public education, neighborhood watch and patrols and mounting of barriers.

Dr. Manfo called on the public to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious characters to the police or any of the security agencies, stressing that during festive occasions especially, criminals trail and rob people they suspect of carrying money for shopping and to or from the bank.

"Personal security is very important and it behoves everybody to provide themselves total security."

In case of emergency, the public can call the following Police numbers: 021-7739000, 773901-6 and 191 if the person is a subscriber to any of the cellular phones such as Areeba, Tigo, Kasapa or Onetouch.