HGP NIGHTLY NEWS: The Guyana Police Force is turning up the heat on crime, and the numbers suggest a major shift is already underway. Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has signalled a new phase of aggressive enforcement across all divisions, promising intensified operations against drugs, illegal firearms, and every form of illicit activity undermining public safety.
Speaking on the Force’s ongoing strategy, the Top Cop said seizures are rising sharply because police have been explicitly directed to “take everything that is unlawful” off the streets.
Nowhere is that escalation more visible than in narcotics enforcement. In 2025 alone, police seized an eye-catching 233 kilograms of cocaine, a dramatic leap from just six kilograms recovered in 2024. Cannabis enforcement also climbed, with 244 people charged this year compared to 227 last year. Cocaine-possession charges rose even more steeply, increasing from 38 persons in 2024 to 58 in 2025.
The intensified crackdown has coincided with a broader drop in serious crime nationwide. According to the Commissioner, serious criminal reports fell to 801 this year, down from 1,070 in 2024, a reduction of 269 cases. The figures, he said, reflect the impact of sustained operations rather than isolated crackdowns.
Hicken explained that the GPF’s strategy is anchored in six core pillars that guide modern policing: operations, partnerships, human capacity development, infrastructure, performance, professionalism, and accountability. But even that framework is expanding. He announced that a seventh pillar will be introduced next year as the Force deepens its focus on safety, transparency, and modernization.
Technology is set to play an even larger role. The Commissioner said upgraded command centres and digital reporting systems will strengthen coordination and response times across the country. Significant investments have already been made, including 37 new and refurbished police facilities, five new command centres established in 2025, thousands of body-worn cameras, and the expansion of the Safe City surveillance network.
Police stations nationwide are also being standardised, with modern infrastructure designed to meet international standards while remaining accessible and community-friendly. Over the past five years, billions of dollars have been poured into rebuilding and rehabilitating police stations, outposts, and living quarters as part of a long-term transformation of the Force.
Still, Hicken cautioned that infrastructure and technology alone are not enough. He reminded ranks that professionalism at the station level remains critical, particularly when members of the public walk through the door seeking assistance.
As the GPF deepens its outreach efforts, the Commissioner made it clear that engagement with communities is not a temporary initiative. He described public partnership as a permanent policy direction, insisting that the Force will continue moving forward while expecting officers to maintain discipline, integrity, and what he called an “upright posture” in their service to the nation.
