Rogue cops caught on camera

The Ghana Police Service has hinted that it would soon sanction some corrupt personnel who were captured on camera.

The police say they have gathered enough evidence against some corrupt personnel through electronic devices installed at vantage points.

Rose Bio Atinga, Director of Administration of the Ghana Police Service, who joined personnel of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command to mark the West Africa Security Services Association (WASSA) end-of-year get-together, disclosed this.

WASSA is an annual event for fraternizing to mark the end of the security calendar year.

Though she could not give figures on the exact number of police officers who have been captured on camera, as well as the units they belong to, the Director of Police Administration noted that a number of officers have been caught on tape.”

The initiative, she explained, was taken to monitor the activities of police officers in the course of the discharge of their duties but “we are not going to cover corruption and unprofessionalism.”

The electronic device, according to COP Atinga, captured both sound and video footage of police officers who extorted money from the public and harassed drivers.

They would face disciplinary measures which would include removal from their respective units.

She however cautioned personnel of the police service to desist from such acts and be diligent in carry out their work.

The director of police administration said “a new air is blowing across the length and breadth of the police service and all police officers must feel it.”

She also indicated that the police administration had adopted a new strategy to increase police presence through the establishment of a new police patrol unit at the National Headquarters.

As a result, she pointed out that a number of officers who used to be in the offices, had been directed to join patrol teams.

“The police job is not an office job. Patrolling is the bedrock of every police set up the world over. We mainly focus on three areas, Criminal Investigation, transport and patrol.’

The patrol unit, she said, has commenced at the national headquarters and is expected to be replicated by other regional commands in the nation, adding “Accra has started it and Tema and Kumasi and the other regions will roll theirs soon.’

COP P. E. Timbillah, Accra Regional Police Commander, before moving to the floor to dance to music provided by the police band, noted that in 2012 violent crimes such as armed robbery dropped drastically in the region.

Providing the statistics, he stated that a total of 80,243 cases were recorded in the year as against 82,316 cases in the previous year, representing a decrease of 1,973.

“When the police are everywhere it will be easy for the public to approach them and this will reduce crime.’

Because of the fear of robbers some residents have had to use iron rods meant for building to cage their televisions sets and other assets, he said humorously, which drew laughter from the officers and others.

“We want to reach a stage where people can even sleep and leave their doors open and still have their peace of mind. I believe we will get to this stage.”

He gave assurance that the police would continue to identify crime situations and map out strategies to fight them and called on the public to partner the police to ensure safety and security.

The officers under his command danced to tunes from the President of the Ghana Music Association, Obour and his deputy, Kakyire Kwame Appiah.

He encouraged the personnel to ‘join forces to demonstrate to the public that the police service was created to serve them.”