Training, adaptation paramount as GPF embraces technological innovation to fight crime – NDMA

In a significant move to enhance transparency and accountability, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has adopted advanced technological solutions and innovative techniques to improve crime-fighting efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
This initiative was spotlighted during the Police Force’s 185th Anniversary Symposium last week at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe in Eve Leary, Georgetown.
Themed ‘Modernising policing by balancing technology, community engagement, and global best practices,’ the event featured a panel discussion on ‘Law enforcement innovations, technology, techniques, digital age policing, cyber security, and countering crime.’
During the symposium, talks were advanced on cybercrime, security, and the use of technology to fight crime. Some of the panelists included Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum; Signal Corps Commander, Roger Nurse; National Data Management Authority (NDMA)’s Deputy General Manager for Operations, Orson Smith; Senior Superintendent Jermaine Johnson, and National ICT Advisor Darryl Akeung.

In his opening remarks, Blanhum highlighted the critical threats posed by cybercrime and the necessity for law enforcement to adapt to technological advancements. “We’ve established Zara Computer Centers in almost all (of) the regions, and we have our police ranks, who are being exposed to the various aspects of cybercrime and cyber security learning so that they can be proficient.”
Smith, representing the civilian sector collaborating with the GPF, emphasised the transformative impact of technological innovations on law enforcement. He noted, “… I want to say is that I’m sure we all agree that the integration of advanced technologies and all these innovative techniques are definitely going to transform our law enforcement and we must leverage these technologies, we must leverage things like data analytics, crime prediction models and all the other advances that they have to ensure that we are more effective, we are more efficient and we are more responsive.”

He outlined several technological tools that could be integrated into law enforcement, including facial recognition technology, licence plate recognition (LPR), Mobile Data Terminals, Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs), and Drones. These innovations promise increased efficiency, enhanced accuracy, better resource allocation, and improved officer safety.
“We can, because we are now involved in the use of technology, we can now be able to leverage historical crime data, we can also have complex algorithms do some computations for us and identify things like high crime areas, it can help us to allocate resources proactively. The whole idea of automating these routine tasks and data analysis will help our officers to focus on other critical aspects of their work.”
However, Smith also addressed potential challenges associated with technological integration, such as privacy concerns, bias and fairness, public trust and data security, and the need for adequate training and adaptation. He pointed out that privacy issues are a significant concern, stating, “…we have to balance the use of data analytics with protecting the privacy of the individual and that’s the reason why you would have seen several different pieces of legislation being passed to protect citizens’ right to privacy.”
Further, he acknowledged the limitations of facial recognition technology, especially concerning demographic accuracy, and the potential for bias. He warned, “So we have to deal with those biases, so we have to be very careful that there are some biases and then you can end up unfairly targeting particular persons or even communities.”
Moreover, Smith underscored the importance of proper training and adaptation to new technologies. He stressed, “All of these things that we do, we have to make sure that our officers are properly trained, there is no point having the best facial recognition technology, licence plate recognition technology and we cannot use that technology to track where that suspect went, which vehicle he escaped with and who was his known associates, and of course, we have to be willing to adapt.”
He stressed that to effectively and fairly utilise these technological advancements in policing, ongoing training and the ability to adapt are paramount.
To ensure that crime is effectively tackled, the government has been investing “significantly” in all forms of forensic sciences to be integrated into policing and investigations.
Earlier this year, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, said that the government has recognised that the country has to change its approach to investigations to be successful.
He suggested that the focus on forensics forms part of the government’s plan to adjust policing strategies to conform with changes in society and the way criminals operate. Already, the use of handwritten statements is no longer being tolerated.
Subsequently, Nandlall urged Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken to ensure that officers stop taking handwritten statements and instead use the electronic devices that have been provided.
In addition, with support from international experts, local police officers have received training in forensic photography, document examination, ballistics, and fingerprinting. Furthermore, investments are being made to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.
Nandlall also announced that over 30 police officers, along with five officers from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, went to India on a fully funded scholarship programme to receive training in forensic interviews.