Pwalugu (U/E), July 10, GNA - A batch of 572 Community Protection Assistant Recruits under the National Youth Employment (NYEP) has graduated from the Upper East Regional Police Training School.

The recruits underwent six weeks training instead of the three weeks training their predecessors went through last two months.

The 572 recruits who were from all the districts in the country were trained in Community Policing, Human Rights and Citizenship, Duties of the Security Man, English Language, Traffic Management, Crime Scene Management, Power of Arrest and Search.

They also studied First Aid and HIV/AIDS, Foot and Mobile Patrols, District Assembly bye-laws, Law of Evidence, Criminal Law, Power of Investigation and Code of Conduct.

The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police {DCOP) Roy Amuni, entreated the recruits to exhibit high professional standards in the discharge of their duties.

He said told the recruits, who would be posted to the various police stations, that the training they had undergone gave them the necessary skills to assist the police in crowd control, motto traffic duties and other police duties they would be assigned to perform.

DCOP Awuni however warned them that they had no power to arrest and detain except those conferred on private persons as contained in section 12 of the Criminal Procedure Act, adding; "You are therefore to humble yourselves and take instructions from your supervisors who shall be the Police Personnel".

He urged recruits to be mindful that checkpoints and traffic control duties were some areas where the police were generally found wanting and accused of various forms of extortions and inhuman treatment of motorists and passengers.

He said the Police Service would deal with anyone of them who condoned wrong doing and illegal conduct whilst on duty, adding that they must not compromise on criminal activities and traffic indiscipline but be fair and firm in the duties assigned them.

DCOP Amuni said the Police Administration would be monitoring their activities and conduct during the two year contract and those found to exhibit high professional standard and good conduct would be absorbed into the Service.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Regional Minister, entreated them not to see the NYEP as their permanent jobs but to strive harder to improve upon their academic performance to become professional workers.

He indicated that it was government's intention to recruit more people into the Police Service to beef up security in the country and urged them to exploit that opportunity.

Mr Abuga Pele, National Coordinator of the NYEP, said last two months, the NYEP recruited about 517 youth under the Community Protection Unit and would be recruiting about 5000 more youth some of whom would be sent to the Prison Service, Fire Service and Immigration.

He reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to take their work seriously and indicated that the Scheme had put in place exit plans to absorb them into the various security agencies if they lived up to expectation.

Community Protection Assistant Recruit, Joseph Andoh, was adjudged the overall best recruit and was presented with an award.