POLICE CHIEF COMMENDS RESIDENTS OF KUMASI (PAGE 18)

THE Ashanti Regional Police Commander,Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Eden Timbillah, has commended residents in Kumasi and its environs for providing useful information to the police leading to the arrest of some hardened criminals who were harassing law abiding citizens and creating a sense of fear and insecurity in the metropolis.
He said notwithstanding the public support which enabled the police to chalk up some successes in combating crime in the region, “it was important for the public to be very vigilant and observant, to enable them to continue to provide information on suspicious characters to prevent the commitment of crime “
He was commenting on the challenges of the crime situation in the region and how the police was addressing it.
“The police have been motivated by the public support and collaboration to carry out important raids leading to the arrest of some criminals who were on our wanted list,” he said.”
Mr Timbilla said by their action, “the public had proved that combating crime is a shared responsibility and that the police alone cannot win the battle against criminals”.
Mr Timbillah, however, expressed concern about the lynching of suspected criminals, and said such actions always impeded police investigations.
“ We would appreciate that the public should hand over suspected criminals arrested to the nearest police station to enable us to carry out further investigations into their activities,” he said.
He pointed out that the lynching of suspected criminals made it impossible for the police to arrest and prosecute accomplices, and that “we appreciate public support but they should not mete out instant justice to suspected criminals”.
Mr Timbillah also urged the public to support the police with accommodation and vehicles to enhance police patrols on a 24-hour basis in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He explained that the Kumasi metropolis was expanding rapidly, and that the available logistics and facilities at the disposal of the police did not make it possible for them to carry out extensive patrols.
He said newly developed suburbs in the metropolis were the most vulnerable in terms of armed robbery attacks, and said “residents in such areas can pool resources together, buy their own vehicles for the police to patrol their areas regularly to ward off armed robbers”.
“We have the men who are eager to carry out patrols to enhance sanity in the metropolis but inadequate accommodation and logistics undermine our operations . Since the government alone cannot bail us out, the public should come to our aid to enhance effective and efficient policing in their areas,” he pleaded
He said it was also important for the public to keep emergency numbers of the police to facilitate contacts during emergency situations.
Mr Timbillah explained that because the public did not keep police contact numbers, they were unable to notify the police in times of attacks by robbers, “and this facilitates the escape of the robbers to enjoy their booty”.
He also called on the business community to build good rapport with the police and warned against carrying large sums of monies home because they attracted robbers at odd hours”.