Georgetown : The Ministry of Public Security plans to establish an operational Communications and Information Command Centre. This is among some of the key measures being operationalised to support the crime prevention and investigative capabilities of the Guyana Police Force.
The aim is to strengthen, not only the forensic and criminal investigative techniques of the Force but, its ability in crime detection, through the application of information technology methodologies. Funding for the ventured is covered in the 2015 Budget.
Second-Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said that the financing comes under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Citizen Security Programme II, which aims at improving the operation efficiency of the Force, with regards to reducing the levels of crime, violence and insecurity.
He explained that the monies that are going to be disbursed for the command centre and other supportive measures, amount to some US$2.5 million. In addition to the establishment and management of the centre, funds will also go towards the resuscitation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) feeds within the city to the Timehri environs. It also provides for improvement in 911 services countrywide.
“We are going to have many cameras all around the city streets and a command centre that would see what is happening,” Minister Ramjattan said. He added that the command centre would be manned by civilians.
According to Ramjattan, the centre will have many mounted television cameras that could be used to trace incidents and to link these with ambulances, fire service and police service and responses.
“On that screen you will actually know where a police car is and, if there is a robbery you will divert immediately the closest patrol vehicle to the scene of the crime and as well call 911 or the fire service,” the Minister explained.
