The Ghana Police on Friday launched a special exercise designed to offer enhanced protection to residents from the activities of criminals.
The exercise tagged: “Operation Father Christmas,” is also a confidence building measure to assure all and sundry of their safety and security in Ghana during the yuletide and into 2016.
According to the Police Administration the operation involves robust confidence building and deterrent Police patrols across the country.
“This would be on 24/7 basis. It will be in the form of mobile and foot patrols. This is meant to assure the general public that the Police are ready and willing to protect citizens.
“More Police personnel have been drawn from the offices to join the patrol for better coverage and impact.
“Personnel from the National Police Headquarters have been deployed to support Accra Region, in this exercise,” Commissioner of Police (COP) Prosper Agblor, stated at the launch of the operation in Accra.
He explained that the operation is part of the new Inspector General of Police’s measures in place to ensure that law and order are maintained in the country.
“Mr John Kudalor, the acting IGP priorities among other things is to ensure that law abiding residents go about their daily activities without fear of crime.
“It is the intention of the IGP that all residents in Ghana celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities devoid of crime and any untoward occurrences,” COP Agblor stated.
COP Agblor who is the Director General of Criminal Investigative Department (CID) personnel from the CID Headquarters are on standby to provide support to other regions should the need arise.
“Let me assure persons living on the outskirts of the various towns and cities that the patrols will be extended to cover their areas as well,” he said.
He said the National Patrol Department, which currently deploys Police personnel in the various communities and on the streets would increase their activities to cover many more duty points.
“Members of the community should feel free to approach them for any assistance whatsoever and also give information that they may have,” he said.
He said only ECOWAS Police approved check points shall be manned…“Even though snap check points may be erected in some areas, as much as practicable this would be done in a manner not to inconvenience the travelling public”.
COP Agblor said Community Policing would play a key role in this year’s operation father Christmas with sensitization fore at the various communities.
“This is to elicit the support of the communities in crime prevention and combating,” he said.
He noted that security research has shown that during festive periods, crime wave as well as the spate of road traffic accidents goes up.
“As part of the strategies to curb such incidents, the Service undertakes such operations to ensure that criminals do not have a field day and that residents celebrate the season in peace and tranquility.
“There is also an increase in commercial as well as social activities. This situation unfortunately makes it easy for criminals to commit crimes, such as petty stealing, shoplifting, robberies, assaults and many other offences.
“Again, some motor vehicle drivers in their bid to maximise profit drive recklessly and cause road traffic accidents leading to the loss of lives and injuries,” the CID head noted.
He appealed to residents to be extra vigilant and to motorists to exercise utmost caution during this period.
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