The
new Inspector General of Police on Tuesday 27 July 2017 started a nationwide
familiarization tour.
The
tour is aimed at visiting officers and offices under his purview and also to
meet regional and local community leaders.
The
IGP was accompanied by a high-powered delegation from the police headquarters,
which comprises Police Chief of Operation, Alhagie Modou Gaye, Commissioner
Police Intervention Unit, Omar Darboe, Deputy Commissioner Police Finance,
Ousman Cham, Commissioner Police Engineering Unit, Lang Fofana and other senior
cadre of the force.
During
the tour, IGP Kinteh and delegation visited almost each and every Police post,
checkpoint, station and barrack as well as paid a courtesy call on the regional
Governors of North Bank Region, Alhagie Ebrima K. Dampha, Central River Region,
Mr Sulayman Barry, Upper River Region, Mrs Fatou Jammeh Touray, and Lower River
Region, Mrs Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh and district chiefs, Alkalis and members
of the community.
In
his opening remarks, the Chief of Police Operation, Alhagie Momodou Gaye, on
behalf of the IGP, DIG and the entire senior management of the Gambia Police
Force, expressed gratitude to the regional police commands, Governors, Chiefs,
Alkalos and the entire communities of the regions for the warm welcome accorded
to the IGP and the touring delegation.
According
to Chief of Operation Gaye, the IGP is embarking on this tour because after his
appointment by His Excellency the President of the Republic of the Gambia,
Adama Barrow, it is incumbent on the new appointee as tradition and
constitution requires for him/her to embark on a nationwide familiarization
tour in the regions and units under his purview. For that reason, IGP Kinteh is
prompted to embark on a nationwide tour so as to have a firsthand knowledge of
the successes and constraints affecting the Police and the community with
regard to issues of security concern.
COP
further reminded police officers to work hard in the interest of the nation and
always follow the due processes of the police procedures and the code of
conduct.
According
to him, gone are the days when members of the police are seen as masters, that
henceforth, the police must realize that they are accountable to the
communities they serve.
He
also warned members of the Police Force to always maintain high sense of
discipline at all time since discipline is the bedrock of a standard police
force.
The
Governor of North Bank Region, Alhagie Ebrima K. Dampha who also doubles as the
chairperson of the regional joint security task force, said the IGP’s tour is
very timely and welcoming, therefore commended him and his delegation for the
foresight.
According
to Governor Dampha, the police is doing a great job in curbing crimes and
criminal activities but stressed the need for collaborative efforts for the
national police to be strengthened in terms of resources and equipment.
He
said this is so because the police are given much bigger responsibilities that
include internal security and other missions outside the country.
The
Governor attested that his region is prone to armed robbery attacks and cross
border criminal activities such as cattle rustling, shop breaking to name a few
and those doing such crimes are armed, therefore, one does not expect unarmed
police officers to attack and arrest armed robbers. These, according to him,
have rendered the work of the police difficult.
The
governor urges the IGP to also look into the accommodation and mobility
constrains faced by the police in doing their work.
Similar
sentiments were re-echoed by all other governors, Chiefs, Alikalos and members
of the communities in the regions.
For
his part, the new Inspector General of Police, Landing Kinteh thanked everyone
who has in one way or the other contributed in making the tour a possibility.
He
commended the regional police and administrators for the warm welcome.
IGP
Kinteh stressed the need for a collaboration and full participation of all to
see to it that The Gambia has a very highly professional, dedicated and
motivated police force that can meet the demands of her people and match
international standards.
According
to Kinteh, it is so disheartening to see the deploring conditions of the
majority of police stations and the difficult condition police officers are
living, especially those in the provinces.
He
also promised to do his best to better the conditions of the men and officers
working under him.
According
to him, the Gambia Police Force under his leadership has taken some proactive
measures by setting up a Think Tank at the police headquarters; that is task to
look into issues making police work very difficult and come up with a strategic
plan document that will move the GPF to international Standards.
The
Think Tank, which comprises expertise from the police, is assigned to embark on
a nationwide tour of the country, so as to get the input of each and every
police officer and also seek the opinion of the communities they are serving.
The
IGP also promised to address the issue of road traffic accident, which has
become a big concern for every Gambian.
According
to him, plans are already on the way to have a lasting solution to that, thus,
sometimes two weeks back, he visited the Mobile Traffic Unit to have a frantic
discussion with them.
In
the area of discipline, IGP Kinteh stressed the need for a highly discipline
force, thus plans are under way to strengthen the Complaint and Discipline Unit
and decentralize it to the regions.
According
to IG Kinteh this will serve as a watchdog office that will monitor the
unlawful activities of some police officers and regulate them. It will also
make the police to be accountable to the communities they serve.
The
IGP also promised to empower the regional police commissioners, officer
commanding, station officers so on and will have little or no interference from
the police headquarters so that they can have the authority to enforce and
maintain discipline at the highest level.
Furthermore,
the new IGP promised to improve the general welfare of the members of the
police force, such as bringing back credit facilities from banks the police use
to enjoy during the first Republic, and to improve the general wellbeing of his
men.
He
reminded the officers that since there are no much funds from the central
government to support the police 100%, his office has already started working
closely with international donor and partners to support the Gambia Police
Force to achieve her development aspirations to reach international standards.
Finally,
IGP Kinteh urged the police and the general public to strengthen a closer
collaboration in the spirit of community policing, so that all hands will be on
deck to prevent and quell suspected crimes, since national security should be
the business of all.
The
tour, which is expected to continue in the Kombos on Tuesday 8 August 2017, was
chaired by the Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Foday Conta, who also
emphasized discipline within the police force, which he said is the bedrock of
the Gambia Police Force.