Six police personnel in the Central Region were dismissed from the Police Service last year for engaging in criminal activities.

Additionally, five police personnel had their ranks reduced while two others were severely reprimanded for indiscipline during the same year.

The Central Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ransford Moses Ninson, announced these in a speech read on his behalf at the Central Regional Police Command’s West African Security Services Association (WASSA) celebration held in Cape Coast, last Friday.

Personnel of the Service used the occasion to take stock of their activities.

Twenty-four personalities, comprising 18 Junior Officers and six civilian employees, were awarded in recognition of their dedicated services and hard work in 2014.

DCOP Ninson cautioned personnel of the Police Service to refrain from acts of indiscipline, because such behaviours would not be countenanced by the police administration.

He stressed that the police administration would not shield personnel who would violate the law.

Commenting on crime, DCOP Ninson stated that the Central Region recorded 18, 679 criminal cases in 2014 as against 18,676 cases recorded in 2013.

Murder cases, he said, however, reduced to 39 in 2014 as against the 49 cases recorded in 2013 while robbery cases reduced from 156 in 2013 to 79 cases in 2014.

DCOP Ninson said that defilement cases increased from 191 in 2013 to 273 cases in 2014, while rape cases increased from 38 cases in 2013 to 56 cases in 2014.

He appealed to the public to collaborate with the police in the fight against crime.

DCOP Ninson expressed concern about the high rate of road crashes in the region and called for collaboration among all stakeholders in order to curb the menace.

He said that the region recorded 1,037 road accidents and 206 deaths in 2014, as against 1,162 road accidents and 287 deaths in 2013.

DCOP Ninson said that the Regional Police Command through the strategic national policing plan, would increase police visibility and accessibility to communities.

The Service, according to DCOP Ninson would monitor and evaluate the performance of personnel to ensure that they discharge their duties with zeal.

He said that the Service would collaborate with the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), to intensify road safety education to avert accidents.

The Central Regional Minister, Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, commended the security agencies for working hard to promote peace.

He urged them to refrain from acts that would undermine the image of the Police Service.

He urged the public to collaborate with the security agencies to curb crime.