By Tiana cole | HGP Nightly News |
— Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken delivered a landmark address at the opening of the Annual Police Officers’ Conference on Wednesday, signaling a definitive shift from “aspiration to execution” in the force’s modernization agenda. Hicken revealed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has successfully implemented 75% of its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, the highest success rate recorded in the organization’s history.
The Commissioner’s report highlighted a force that is increasingly reliant on data, AI, and digital integration to drive down crime and restore order to the nation’s roadways.
Crime and Traffic: The Data Shift
The integration of technology has yielded tangible results in public safety, with Commissioner Hicken providing a statistical breakdown of the force’s recent gains:
- Crime Reduction: Serious crime has seen a steady decline, moving from -25% to the current -23%, with a criminal case “clear-up rate” now approaching 60%.
- Road Safety: The Safe Road Intelligence System has been credited with a 9% reduction in road accidents. Since its launch, over 35,000 electronic speeding tickets have been issued automatically, removing the human element from initial enforcement.
- Operational Efficiency: The roll-out of body-worn cameras, upgraded CCTV networks, and digital workstations has significantly improved officer accountability and service delivery at the station level.
Human Capital and Integration
Commissioner Hicken emphasized that the force’s strength in 2025 was “integration”—the ability to bring people, infrastructure, and technology together into a single, cohesive system.
- Human Capital Expansion: The force has seen a significant increase in the recruitment of specialized personnel to manage its growing digital infrastructure.
- Smart Policing: The transition to AI-enabled policing tools is intended to predict crime hotspots and optimize patrol routes in real-time.
The 2026 Roadmap: $36.2 Billion Allocation
Looking forward, the GPF is set to receive a substantial $36.2 billion allocation in the 2026 Budget to fund the final phase of its strategic transformation.
Key 2026 Initiatives:
- Safe Country Initiative: A nationwide roll-out of high-definition surveillance and rapid-response systems.
- Digital Case Management: Following President Ali’s proposal, the force will move to a fully electronic filing system to eliminate missing files.
- Automated Dispatch: Implementing an AI-driven dispatch service to reduce response times for emergency calls.
- Welfare Programs: Expansion of housing and educational support programs specifically for police ranks and their families.
“Modern policing can no longer rely on tradition alone,” Hicken stated. “It is driven by technology, innovation, and leadership that is anchored in legitimacy and accountability.”
