The Acting Head of Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori, has indicated that there is a new turn in the robbery activities in the country. This robbery, the ACP described as the day light robbery, has recently become the new trend.
Speaking on the recent robberies in the country, he stated that it has brought about lots of public concern and assured that the Police Service has devised a new strategy to confront the new type of crime [daylight robbery] that has emerged.
“We’re witnessing a new turn; broad daylight robberies, and this is what we are also concerned [about]. That made the Police administration to have an emergency meeting inviting all divisional commanders for brainstorming. One thing is, we’ve profiled them [the criminals], we are doing targeting offs. We know who they are, we know their mode and way of doing things and I can assure that before many days, the Police will get them.”
ACP Kwesi Ofori
Robbery rate hasn’t increased
However, ACP Ofori disclosed that despite the concerns of heightened insecurity in the country, coming on the back of recent armed robberies in parts of the country, there has not been an upsurge in robberies. He added that the Police will ensure that the new activity will be put to a stop.
“Putting it right, robbery has not increased per se. But there’s been some kind of robberies like the three daylight robberies that we witnessed in the Accra-Tema Metropolitan area. And that has deepened a lot of public concern; a lot of people have shown concern about the nature it was executed in broad daylight and that attracted public conversation and discussion on it. In totality, the Police are in control. Residential, workplace robberies among others are under control.
“You might have noticed that we have deployed massively at all intersections,;joints and strategic areas made up of the motor assault team and these are all ongoing to make sure that we keep faith with our people so that we are able to protect them better.”
ACP Kwesi Ofori
He then disclosed that these personnel deployed to ensure safety alongside risking their lives are equipped. He said although it’s not enough, they are managing and will increase their logistics with time.
Police to interact with banks
Touching on the bank robberies,;he also disclosed that the Acting Inspector General has charged the Police Officer to ensure they interact with the bank managers and the banking staff. He said they were also charged to make sure they deploy around all financial centres and make sure that they see them as part of their community so they can devise more effective means of curbing robberies. Also
“That may need a lot of intelligence and Police operational intervention. And I think we will be doing that and we are on course. The Regional Commander,;the divisional district officers are all part of it and we are unveiling strategies from one point to the other.”
ACP Kwesi Ofori
