Winneba, (W/R) Oct. 3, GNA - Dr. Kwesi Kesse Manfo, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Operations, on Monday cautioned policemen, who connived with people to engage in criminal activities to desist from the act since they would face severe sanctions when caught. He said the duty of the police was to ensure the safety of the country and maintain law and order adding that any assistance to criminals would be the greatest disservice to the country. Dr Manfo made the call at the Winneba Training School when he opened the second training programme for the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) for 219 policemen.

The month-long programme sponsored by the French government is to adequately equip the police in riot and crowd control activities to ensure public order and safety.

The participants, who were recruited from all over the country include Constables, Sergeants, Inspectors and Senior Officers. Two experts from France, Captain Francois Aillot and Lieutenant Stephane Pautrat, are the instructors for the course, the first of which was held exactly a year ago for 110 policemen. Dr Manfo, who cited a case in Elmina where a police constable arranged with armed robbers to rob an accountant, said the police administration would not tolerate any member who would tarnish the image of the police service.

He said those who practiced "gutter policing", that is, taking the law into their own hands, would be dismissed. On the spate of armed robberies, he said no matter how sophisticated the robbers became the police would arrest them and cautioned travellers to be wary of their activities on the roads. The Deputy IGP commended the first batch of the trainees who, he said, performed excellently during major national and regional demonstrations and the bi-elections held at the Asawase and Odododiodoo. Captain Michel Porthier, the French Project Coordinator, said the training would enable the participants to acquire the basic techniques and react appropriately in difficult situations, while preserving their personal safety and that of the public.

He urged them to help fight against crime and make the country a place where foreigners would want to visit without fear.