Ghana Police to embark on special operations for safe yuletide

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) will deal ruthlessly with all criminal elements and their unwanted activities during and after the yuletide.

In view of this, the GPS has launched a special operation exercise code named; “Operation Father Christmas,” with a route march through some parts of Accra. “Operation Father Christmas” having been operational in the last four years, has become an annual operational strategy of the police and is normally rolled out to consolidate peace and security in the country and ensure that the citizenry are safe before, during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The operation also seeks to bring the Police closer to the public and ensure that people celebrate the festive season devoid of fear of crime and other unruly behaviours.

According to the Police Administration, the operation would involve an increased deployment of personnel and intensified security in densely populated areas such as the shopping malls, recreational and entertainment centres, beaches, churches, busy streets, and market centres as well as new settlements. The operation would also see uniformed and plain-clothed officers on mobile and foot patrols within the communities to prevent residential crimes.

Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, Inspector-General of Police launching the operation, said protection of lives and property was a fundamental responsibility of the Police, adding that, the Service would leave no stone unturned to ensure that their core responsibility was achieved in totality during the festive season. “Let me sound a stern warning to anyone or group of persons who intend to use the Christmas and New Year festive period to perpetrate any form of criminal activity to note that the Police Service together with our sister security organisations will deal decisively with them,” he said.

He said the Police Service would conduct intelligence –led operations, set up snap-checks, day and night patrols, deploy motorbike patrols, increase highway patrol to tackle robberies in particular, and increase Police visibility to build public confidence and offer maximum protection to all and sundry. “We will strictly enforce the Traffic Regulations and deal severely with recalcitrant drivers who flout the regulations with impunity. In view of this, there will be enhanced deployment of officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) with the necessary logistics to enforce the laws on the roads,” he added.

Mr Oppong-Boanuh said effective crime management was based on shared responsibility between the Police and the public that it served.

He therefore urged the public to endeavor to inform the Police on any criminal activity or suspicious characters within their vicinity for timely intervention through the Police toll-free 191 and 18555 numbers.

The IGP in admonishing the officers to avoid any tendencies that might drag the name of the Service into disrepute encouraged them to be committed to their work and remain professional and civil to the public.

He said the Police Administration would strive to support the officers by giving them the requisite tools to effectively carry out their duties.