Law enforcement intelligence has functioned to capacity -Luncheon
The intelligence apparatus now existing in law enforcement circles has functioned to its capacity, according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon who also chairs the Joint Intelligence Committee. However, he said that dedicated efforts would be made to improve the quality base of its performance. Briefing reporters yesterday at the GTV 11 studios, Homestretch Avenue, Luncheon asserted that there was a formidable police intelligence apparatus. However, he said that there should always be efforts to improve on performance and that efforts would be dedicated to this end. Asked about the report on the Police by UK adviser Paul Matthias, which had been commissioned by then President, Janet Jagan, on the issue of intelligence gathering, the Cabinet Secretary said that he was not aware that the report addressed the existing capacity in the Police Force to perform intelligence gathering. "There is a formidable structure that exists in law enforcement because intelligence gathering is one of the foundations." He explained that the report "called for its enhancing and improving that capacity and ... that dedicated efforts are going to be spent to achieve that quality base." Matthias, in his report, said that the police force "still relies on ad hoc collection of information, while reaction to events is principally demand led and cannot control outcomes." To address this he recommended the shift to intelligence-led policing as a way of more effectively discharging the force's functions given the limited resources, human and material at its disposal. Matthias explained that for any major organisation to compete and grow in the 21st century, it would "need reliable, accurate and timely information on which to brief its personnel and achieve results." "While limited staff, lack of funding and outdated equipment will hamper the ability of the GPF to police effectively, it could be more successful if it adopted an `intelligence led' approach to policing." Suggesting that the intelligence-led policing would also be more effective in the Police's anti-narcotics campaign, Matthias observed that "given the concerns over drugs and firearms entering the country and the influence each can have on causing the commission of serious criminal offences, there is little substantial data known to the officers and community volunteers who work for the GPF."
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