More police presence ... As Accra command increases zones to 70

Page 32: Daily Graphic, February 6, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Regional Police Command is to increase its zonal operational sectors from 36 to 70 within the next two months to make for quicker response to robbery and other criminal incidents.
The number of zones, which is expected to hit 100 by the end of the year, is also intended to increase police presence in the Accra Region through foot and vehicular patrols.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Buanuh, the Accra Regional Police Commander, who outlined these when the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, visited the personnel, called for more vehicles to enable the police to deal with criminal activities especially car snatching and workplace and residential robberies.
He also called on the city authorities to install street lights and name or number the streets in the region to enhance effective operations.
He stressed the need for all road networks leading to newly developed villages and towns within the region to be rehabilitated as the poor road network contributed to the poor response to robbery cases in those areas.
According to him, with a population of more than four million in the Accra Regional Police Command, it was necessary that those measures were put in place with the requisite logistics to address the challenges of economic and population growth with its attendant criminal activities.
DCOP Oppong-Buanuh, whose address was greeted with applause by personnel, called for more communication gadgets to enhance communication between personnel on foot patrols and those in operational vehicles, since private mobile phones being used by police personnel were not compatible with the police communication equipment.
He bemoaned the poor accommodation situation in the region, which had made some junior officers to sleep at the regional canteen and shoe making shop.
He said the conditions were such that the human rights of the personnel were not respected.
For her part, Mrs Mills-Robertson said her vision was to lead the Police Service to stay on top of the crime situation in the country.
She urged the police officers to re-strategise their crime combat activities to include increased police presence, rapid response, random patrols to create a sense of omnipresence of the police to deter crime, directed patrols, and conducting proactive and reactive arrests.
Mrs Mills-Robertson urged the police to blend problem-oriented policing with community policing to enhance greater partnership with the populace.
She urged the personnel to change their attitude towards work and the manner they handled issues brought to them, as well as eschew corrupt practices, to help redeem the image of the service.
The acting IGP said the Police Service had declared war on crimes, especially armed robberies and associated violent crimes and urged the police to work hard to win the war.
"We will not let them have peace, we will continue to breathe heavily on their necks until they come to the realisation that it is unprofitable to embark on a criminal carrier path," she said, adding that "our people have a right to live free from fear and terror and will provide the environment for them to enjoy that right".