The Guyana Police Force’s Georgetown’s Regional Division 4A has launched its Christmas Policing Plan 2025, aimed at ensuring public safety and reducing crime during the peak festive season. Commander of the division, Senior Superintendent Simon McBean, outlined a comprehensive strategy that combines boots-on-the-ground policing, technology, and community engagement.
Highlighting the division’s crime profile, McBean stated that “over 60% of our crimes happens on the street.” This has shaped the Christmas policing strategy, which emphasises increased patrols across all sectors.
“Our Christmas policing plan will be focusing on putting boots on the ground,” he said.
Commander McBean said the division serves “a residential population of 30,000 and a daily visiting population of over 50,000,” a density that “requires robust policing.” He noted that the division currently comprises the headquarters, several offices, one station, and 11 outposts.
The divisional annual policing activities are set to run from November 15, 2025, to January 15, 2026, a period “characterised by intense commercial, social and cultural activities.”
He explained, “During this period, our shopping peaks, and as our shopping peaks, the visitors numbers also rise, so too does the potential for crime, congestion and public disorder, demanding a robust policing posture.”
Daily patrols
To achieve this, the division will deploy 207 patrols daily, comprised of 112 anti-crime and 95 traffic patrols, requiring 507 Police ranks each day. McBean detailed the breakdown: “258 of those are for anti-crime, and 249 ranks will be conducting traffic patrols on a daily basis.”
Patrols will include a combination of foot, bicycle, vehicle, maritime, mounted, canine, drone, and traffic patrols. Patrol timings are as follows: “Foot, bicycle, canine, mounted patrols will be done from eight to a close of shopping. Our motorcycle patrols will be done up to midnight… and our motor vehicle and maritime patrols will be done on a 24-hour basis.”
McBean emphasised that technology will play a central role in the plan. “Now we will rely heavily on technology during this period to ensure that we have a successful policing season, and we will be using our smart cameras, facial and licence plate recognition cameras for identifying suspects, motor vehicles, and monitoring suspicious activities.”
The division will also use crime prevention and detection LCD monitors in key areas, including Stabroek Market, Bourda Market, and the seawall. “Since the implementation of those cameras, we would have seen significant reduction of reported crimes within those areas,” McBean said.
Additionally, “each rank going on duty will have a body camera. We’ll be wearing a body camera, and they will be a direct link, as always, between the command centre operations room and the patrols on the ground for faster Police response.”
Key focus areas include markets, shopping malls, Regent and Robb Streets, banks, commercial areas, tourism and recreational areas, hotels, residential areas, ferry stellings, post offices, and shipping agencies.
“At markets, you’ll find a joint patrol in its real sense, where a Police officer will partner with the city Police,” McBean explained. “Places like Giftland Mall, you will have Police officers in collaboration with private security on the ground that will ensure that those areas are safe.”
Collaboration and community engagement
He also highlighted collaboration with other regions: “For instance, Region 4A will have to collaborate with Region 4C, 4B in policing the road network… Also, we have to collaborate with Region Three for the ferry stellings… to ensure we have the required policing posture at those areas.”
Community engagement remains a key pillar of the plan. McBean stressed that the Police will strengthen partnerships through “community walkabout in meetings and our Christmas outreaches. Encourage residents to participate in community activities that will aid in crime deterrence within the area, collaborate with youth, youth and faith-based, and business organisations… encouraging citizens to use digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Park line, social media to report incidents of crime.”
He also confirmed that “we will continue to use our corporate communication unit to ensure we send our message, our crime tips, our crime prevention tips, our traffic issues… put out there by the CCU and also other media agencies.”
The policing plan includes heightened traffic enforcement and special arrangements for late-night shoppers. McBean explained, “Now, as customary, special arrangements will be implemented to facilitate late shopping on Christmas Eve and Old Year’s.”
Traffic patrols will target speeding, driving under the influence, double parking, diagonal parking, and obstruction. “Plan your trip if you’re coming in a group, consider carpooling, and use designated parking areas,” he advised.
Combining enforcement activities
Commander McBean’s Christmas policing plan combines visible patrols, technological monitoring, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement to ensure the safety of Georgetown during one of the busiest seasons of the year.
“This Christmas season, we will have a safer environment for all businesses, shoppers and visitors,” McBean affirmed. “We intend to increase all forms of patrol… We will be working in close collaboration with the city constabulary, security agencies, our business community and other stakeholders to ensure that we have a safer Georgetown for this season.”
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum outlined the Force’s intensified security plan. He said marine, mounted, and canine patrols will also be expanded, and the Command Centre’s CCTV monitoring capabilities will play a critical role in real-time crime prevention. Ranks on vacation leave will be recalled from December 1, and a special team of investigators will remain on standby at the CID Headquarters to be immediately dispatched to any region where serious or complex crimes occur. Recruitment and training programmes, he said, have also bolstered the Force’s manpower for the season.
Blanhum stressed that these operational strategies, combined with continued community outreach and cooperation with regional and international partners, have positioned the GPF to deliver one of its most comprehensive Christmas policing plans yet.
“We remain committed to fostering safer communities and ensuring that citizens can enjoy the festive season with a sense of security,” he said.
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