W/R Police intensify surveillance

The Western Regional Police Command has assured the public that it would intensify patrols and conduct random searches around public places following the recent terrorist attacks in the West African Sub-region.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Isaac Alex Quainoo, the Regional Police Commander, urged Ghanaians to be extra vigilant and inform the police about the movements of strangers and suspicious characters in the society.

In recent times terrorists attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and La Cote D’Iviore, occurring in hotels and other public places which resulted in the loss of innocent lives has created fear among the populace in the sub-region.

DCOP Quainoo said at the Annual West Africa Security Services Activity (WASSA) for personnel of the Ghana Police Service in Sekondi.

The event was also to take stock of activities during the past year and strategise for the way forward.

DCOP Quainoo said abandoned illegal mining pits in some parts of the Region were claiming many innocent adding that there is the need to cover such pits and warned the populace against engaging in such practice.

He said the Police Command experienced some operational challenges last year because of the upsurge in the activities of such illegal miners, theft and rape, as well as murder and chieftaincy litigations.

However, he said, the Police Service collaborated with other security agencies to contain the situation; and the Region remained one of the safest in the country.

On crime front, he said, a total of 16,102 cases were reported in 2015 as against 13,803 in 2014 thus, witnessing an increase of 2,299.

Nonetheless, he said, the Region recorded reduction in some offences such as robbery, defilement, defrauding by false pretences and possessing narcotic drugs.

DCOP Quainoo assured the public that the Command would continue to work hard and adopt proactive and pragmatic strategies to reduce crime in the Region to the barest minimum.

Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Regional Minister, appealed to corporate institutions in the Region to support the Police Service to undertake frequent patrols in order to combat crime.

“As Chairman of the Regional Security Committee, there are several times we appealed to corporate institutions in the Region including, banks and other financial institutions to support the security taskforce with fuel to undertake frequent patrols but they declined”, he said.

He singled out the Bank of Ghana for donating a Tayota land-cruiser and Pick-Up vehicles to the patrol teams and called on other corporate institutions to assist the work of the police.

Mr Aidoo said the civilian population were partners in maintaining law and order in the society and, therefore, entreated the Police Service to handle informants with care to protect their identity.

The occasion provided a conducive atmosphere for the men in uniform to dine and wine and make merry after working hard to protect lives and property throughout the year.