The image of the Police Service has dramatically improved since the beginning of 2001, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of the Interior, said on Monday.

"I am happy to note the various initiatives being taken to improve the Service. It is hoped that these would be taken very seriously by all benefiting from them for the good of the Service," he added.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang was speaking to officers of the Service at the Police Headquarters in Accra on his first familiarisation tour.

He said government had a sense of pride in seeing the Service perform efficiently and effectively and would continue to support it adding that Police personnel should play their part.

He charged Police personnel to be loyal to the State as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution and to strictly stick to the constitutional mandate of maintenance of law and order.

"Loyalty is expected of all Police personnel. Nobody expects Police personnel to be political. Their responsibility should be to ensure the security of the State. All personnel would be judged on how they perform in this regard."

He warned against manhandling of suspects in custody adding, "cases should be handled devoid of personal interests but with a human face".

The Minister urged personnel to be disciplined in order not to undermine their role as custodians of law and order.

He said discipline should be reflected in the behaviour of all personnel especially in their way of interaction with the public, dressing and the maintenance of offices and residence.

He said government recognised the lack of resources in the Service and was feverishly working with development partners and District Assemblies to secure funds to rectify the situation.

On conditions of service of personnel, Mr Owusu-Agyemang said proposals before the Police Council would soon be put before government for approval.

On crime, the Minister commended the Police for ensuring the reduction in armed robbery.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang asked them not to relent in their efforts to combat crime, especially advanced fee fraud, narcotics trafficking and illegal trafficking of children, among other things.

He asked the personnel to be committed to duty and not to see policing only as a job to be done.

The Minister would also be touring the Police Hospital and Police Depot Training School.

Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police, appealed to government to give more support to the Service for personnel to discharge their duties effectively.

He stated that the Police urgently needed four-wheel drive vehicles to patrol the hinterland.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah noted that the communication equipment of the Service was woefully inadequate and called for the provision of modern ones to facilitate the combating of crime.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang had earlier inspected a guard of honour and later held an open forum with the Officers, from which the media were excluded.