Police to get modernised radio devices to fight crime

In the coming days, several Police officers patrolling the Georgetown area will be equipped with a specialised radio system that will allow them access to real-time footage from the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the capital city.
This is according to Commander of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Sub-division A (Georgetown), Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas.
During a telephone interview with this publication, the Commander explained that these improved and upgraded devices will aid law enforcement officials in responding to reports of any criminal activities in a timelier manner.
However, while the devices are limited, they will be given to ranks within the city to use during the Christmas season.

According to Commander Thomas, these devices are different from the ‘body-cameras’ that policemen and policewomen would usually have. They were developed and procured for a different purpose altogether.
Just a few days ago, an announcement was made that there will be an additional 17 CCTV cameras installed country-wide.
The high-technology security camera system is expected to support crime prevention efforts by the Joint Services in places such as the highly-congested Stabroek Market area, the crucial Berbice River Bridge and the Lusignan Prison on the lower East Coast Demerara (ECD) among other areas.
In a release, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ NDMA arm said the 17 new locations will bring the total number of cameras to 119 so far and these have been credited with solving a number of criminal activities around the country.
Major (retd) Floyd Levi, Head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), recently said that the programme is being ramped-up under Safe City Solutions project being carried out in collaboration with the Chinese Government.
Huawei Technologies, which is slowly emerging as one of the world’s leading high-technology supplier companies, is leading efforts with the NDMA to execute the US$37.6 million project that would add a crucial electronic surveillance component to help Police fight crime. The NDMA falls under the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.
Also, new CCTV systems are being installed at the Berbice River Bridge in Region Five and another at the Palmyra Junction on the lower Corentyne.