Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Ghana Police Service is to establish anti-armed robbery units in the regions to help stamp out armed robbery in the country.

This decision was reached at an emergency Regional Commanders' Conference held at the Police Headquarters, Accra on February 1, this year at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, Nana Owusu Nsiah.

In addition, vibrant Highway Patrol Units will be established in the regions to take care of highway robberies.

A statement Mr D.N. Ampiah Bennin, Chief Superintendent of Police and Director of the Public Relations said the Police Administration had directed that more joint patrols with the military should be organized nationwide to ensure the safety of the people. To complement the effort of the police in combating crime, the public was asked to lead moderate lifestyles to avoid attracting the attention of criminals.

The statement warned that large sums of monies should not be kept at home or carried along on journeys without police escort. To ensure effective communication, the Police Administration had made available reliable telephone numbers to the public.

These include Police Headquarters- 021775765/773906; Accra Region- 021-664612/662290; Tema Region- 022-202936/7; Ashanti Region- 051-22323. The IGP, Nana Owusu Nsiah charged Regional, Divisional and District Commanders to supervise personnel under their command.

He told the commanders that they would be held responsible when armed robberies occurred in their areas of jurisdiction. The IGP said that police would be given further training in weapon handling to improve their shooting skills, to better equip them to protect the public.

The Police Service also called on the government to expedite action on naming of streets and numbering of houses to facilitate prompt response of the police to emergency situations. It appealed to the Chief Justice and the Judiciary to impose prison sentences on armed robbers who were found guilty to keep them away from the society.