Eighteen members of the Guyana Police Force on Saturday received their certificates and a badge for completing the COPSQUAD2000 initiative. The training program was launched last month by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
Through COP SQUAD, at least one officer at every police station across the country will receive specialized training on how to address issues of domestic violence. The Guyana Police force is expected to train at least 2,000 officers by the end of this year.
The graduation exercise took place at the Police Officers’ Training Centre in Kingston and saw in attendance Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie.
While the COP SQUAD provides adequate training for participants, Minister Benn expects police officers to better communicate with victims of abuse, whilst eliminating the stigma surrounding domestic violence reports.
Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie stated that this training will properly equip officers with the skills to ensure that domestic violence reports are handled accordingly.
For the period September 2020- September 2021, 17 persons have been killed as a result of domestic violence.
Meanwhile, domestic violence reports have sharply increased by 12% for the period January- August 2021, as compared to 2020.
Nevertheless, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is playing an integral role in providing technical assistance and training, which seeks to ensure that once a domestic violence matter is brought to a police station, it will be handled in a manner that accords with international best practices. The training deals with interrogation, assessment of safety, how to counsel and respond to people who lodge complaints, and how to write case reports.
