Award scheme for police service

Page 16: Daily Graphic, January 16, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration is instituting an awards scheme for personnel of the service who contribute exceptionally to the attainment of its goals.
The awards are, therefore, to serve as motivation and encouragement to others.
The IGP, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, told the Daily Graphic that the administration was working at the nitty-gritty of the awards to institutionalise them so that they remained part of the Police Service, irrespective of who was the head of the service.
“We want the personnel to realise that the time has come for them to wake up to their responsibilities and commitment and work assiduously for the attainment of service objectives,” he said.
Mr Quaye said the personnel could only do that if they were knowledgeable in their job requirements, specifications and the various regulations and instructions that governed their work.
He urged the personnel to strive at all times to work within those parameters.
“It is only when we do this that we will be displaying a sense of competence and professionalism in our work,” he said.
Mr Quaye gave the assurance that personnel who misconducted themselves would be punished according to service regulations and where criminal action was needed, they would be prosecuted.
The Police Administration has given a strong indication to reduce violent crime by 20 per cent this year, with special focus on armed robbery and drug trafficking.
The target is part of a five-year strategic plan to be outdoored on January 22, 2010 to all Regional Commanders and heads of specialised and operational heads.
The strategic plan outlines effective operational measures and highlights specific objectives, targets and outputs to be obtained in each given year by the respective jurisdictions, with the view to enhancing the work of the police in protecting lives and property and carrying out effective investigations, arrest and successful prosecution.
From January to November 2009, 1,276 robbery cases were recorded, as against 1,347 over the same period in 2008, representing a reduction of 5.3 per cent.
Additionally, the police recorded 598 narcotic offences between January and November 2009, as against 679 cases in the same period in 2008, representing a decline of 11.9 per cent.