Public urged to co-operate with police

Cape Coast, Dec. 16, GNA- Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rose Bio Atinga, the Central Regional Police Commander, on Friday called on the public to co-operate with the police in their efforts to combat crime in the society.

She said it was only when these criminals were flushed out of society that life would be comfortable to the majority of the populace.

Mrs Atinga made the call at a press briefing, immediately after a widely publicized identification parade of 31 suspected criminals amongst whom some were identified by five victims at Cape Coast. The 31 criminals include three alleged car snatchers who stole a taxi from Kumasi to Cape Coast, but were arrested in the process of spraying it, and two armed robbers arrested at Kissi near Elmina. The remaining 26 criminals were nabbed at Yamoransa during a dawn swoop on Friday.

The taxi has since been identified by the owner from Kumasi and has been instructed by the police to produce the relevant documents for the release of the car.

According to ACP Atinga, the suspected criminals would be thoroughly screened and investigated and those found to be connected with any crime would be charged and arraigned before the court. ACP Atinga said it was unfortunate that some of the victims who came to identify the suspects were afraid and left before it even began while those who remained lacked the boldness to participate actively in the exercise.

She appealed to the public to report to the police any suspicious characters in their vicinity and also give information on the hideouts of criminals to enable the police to stem the tide of criminal activities in the region.

The Regional Commander said the swoop was to ensure that all criminal activities were stamped out to enable the inhabitants of Cape Coast municipality as well as the whole region to enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas.

She cautioned the public to be extra cautious in their movements and dealings with others, as people of different characters have trooped into the municipality, with different intentions, and that it is difficult to differentiate good people from the bad ones. Mrs Atinga said the police personnel are also on the roads to check over-speeding, reckless driving, over-loading and drunk-driving to ensure that accidents on the roads were effectively checked to save lives before, during and after the Yuletide. She advised passengers to report to the police at the check points any driver whose conduct was inimical to safe driving to ensure an accident-free Christmas.