Superintendent David Eklu of the Community Policing Unit of the Ghana Police Service, on Friday said communities were credible partners to the Police in detecting, investigating and preventing crimes.
"The police will not be alone in fighting armed robbers and recalcitrant citizens if Ghanaians share the view that they are partners in the fight against crime," he said.
Supt. Eklu was speaking at youth crime prevention programme at Amrahia near Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region, organised for pupils of Amrahia Community Junior High School to educate them on the roles of the Police and youth in preventing crime.
The programme that seek to involve students in the first and second cycle institutions in crime identification and prevention, especially those involving young people, educated participants on the functions of the Police.
The event which was jointly organised by the Community Policing Unit of the Ghana Police Service and Fraternal Order of Police (FOD), a
non-governmental organization (NGO), was also to foster healthy relationship between the Police and the community.
Supt. Eklu said the Police did not only prevent crime but also protected life and property of individuals and organizations from criminals.
"The police control demonstrations and other processions by civil society organizations to ensure the safety of individuals that take part in
such activities," he explained.
Supt. Eklu advised students to avoid smoking strange substances, take medication only prescribe be physicians, refrain from sexual promiscuity and beware of making contacts with friends on the internet.
He advised women not to wash off sperms and soiled pants and sheets when raped since they were vital evidence for clamping down rapists.
Supt Eklu stressed that victims of rape must not negotiate money or any
form of intervention as compensation and advised women not to allow men to humiliate them.
Mr. Anthony Mensah, National Chairman of the NGO, called on the public to assist the Police to prevent crime.
He said FOD would work with the Police, religious organisations and opinion leaders such as assembly members and traditional rulers to bring policing to the doorsteps of people.
Mr Mensah said "We believe in crime prevention than arresting people,
we do not want crimes to happen before we think of preventing them", adding
that it would be very difficult for a police population of 21,000 to police more than 21 million Ghanaians.
He said FOD would involve citizens more than 15 years old in its programme to help in crime prevention.
Mr Mensah said "The Police have been isolated in the barrack far too long," said and stressed that it was dangerous keeping the Police away from the people.
He said the NGO would introduce a programme to be known as "Host the Police in Your Home" and explained that under this programme, people would
be encouraged to accommodate Police personnel at their homes for a number of months as a way of preventing crimes in communities.
Mr. Mensah said the programme was successfully tried on pilot basis at
parts of East Legon and North Atomic, all suburbs of Accra, and plans were advanced to replicate it throughout the country.
Assistance Commissioner of Police (ASP) Florence Authur, Head of the Community Policing Unit, said the objective of the Unit was to ensure early detection of crime before it reared into problems for the nation.
Mr. Isaac Quarcoo, headmaster of the school, thanked the Unit for engaging the youth in the fight against crime and advised parents to
encourage their children to support the Police in combating crime.
During question time, the students were educated on how to report crimes, arrest procedure, what rape victims should do among others.
Present at the ceremony were Supt. Habiba Twumasi Sarpong, ASP Kwame
Tawiah and other officers of the Community Policing Unit.