Editorial: Neighbourhood Policing

Enhancing the operations of the Ghana Police Service is one promise that runs through the campaign pledges of many a political party who brandish it with relish on their campaign trails. But as soon as they come to power, the beautifully-packaged promise is put in the backburner.

The largely unfulfilled promise has remained the feature of the relationship between political parties and the foremost internal security organization of the country.

Soon upon assuming the reins of power, the newly-formed government turns the literally famished security agency into a tool for undertaking dirty politically-motivated missions. Expectedly, such politicians find in the top echelon of the service supportive allies.

Such politicisation of this very important security agency has added to its woes as it struggles to be on top of crime management.

The aforementioned drawbacks notwithstanding, the role of the police in reducing crime to the barest minimum is still a function for which there should be no compromise.

Of the many suggestions on how to combat crime and reduce its incidence in the neighborhood, community policing is unsurpassed in its potency. It has made several appearances in speeches of security experts and superior police officers, yet the module remains an ingredient for oration during formal functions.

We recall how the module reduced the crime rate in Nima, Accra and won many hearts for the then Nima Divisional Police Commander, ACP Awuni Angwubutoge, who came to represent the face of Community Policing. The template attracted the attention of other areas whose representatives on some occasions pitched camp with the Nima Watchdog Committee to understudy them. The Nima Watchdog Committee, operating directly under the watchful eyes of the Divisional Commander, reduced drastically the crime rate in the sprawling suburb to the admiration of the Police.

In spite of the many references to the Community Policing module as an answer to the crime question, especially in our many neighbourhoods and the inherent advantages, it has still not garnered the necessary support to facilitate its full potential.

Apart from the establishment of a community policing unit in the Ghana Police Service headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, there has not been any marked effort to move the concept forward.

We were elated about the greatest stride yet towards enhancing the concept in the country when the Vice President commissioned the National Headquarters of the Community Policing Unit.

Perhaps this time around, the authorities have taken a more serious view of the concept and would no longer render lip-service to its operations.

With an effective crime intelligence system still a far cry and one of the reasons armed robbers are able to succeed in their missions, we see in a properly managed national Community Policing module, a way of assembling information about crime.

These should operate in the neighbourhoods, with the regular civilian police supervising their operations. When properly managed, the success rate, we bet, would be invaluable.

Whatever became of the Community Policing Module in the National Youth Employment Programme? Let us be serious and work very seriously to give teeth to the Community Policing Concept. The success of the concept does not lie in the presence of an edifice, although the construction of the structure at Tesano is a necessary development.

The positive impact of community policing in stemming neighbourhood crimes is as true as its contribution towards intelligence gathering.

Credit: Daily Guide/Ghana