The Police High Command has been called upon to systematically and gradually arm personnel of the Police visibility team to adequately enforce law and order.

“We are of the conviction that frontline Police Officers run a very high risk of being targeted during a violent crime and should be empowered to protect themselves and to match violent crimes.”

These were contained in a statement signed and issued by Nana Yaw Akwada, Executive Director, Bureau of Public Safety (BPS), to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema on Monday.

It was also a key sentiment of most Ghanaians as captured in a survey the Bureau had undertaken on public perception of Visibility Policing Initiative (VPI) in Accra, Kumasi, Tema, Takoradi and Navrongo.

“Respondents observed that the concept of Visibility Policing (VP) is a useful initiative and must not be discontinued without putting in place stringent measures that will deter criminals and maintain peace and order,” the statement said.

Mr Akwada said the survey revealed that Ghanaians expect the Police Administration to subject the VPI to a comprehensive nationwide monitoring and evaluation in order to fully appreciate the strengths and weaknesses within the system, to identify gaps that may impacts negatively on the programme or are likely to be identified by criminals for exploitations.

They asked the administration to expand the VPI deep into inhabited communities while they maintain the current system of rotation between duty posts as they believe that crimes were hatched within neighbourhoods, and perpetrators of violent crimes are most likely to strike if they anticipate an inferior force coming against them.

“The respondents recommended that the Administration provide resources to newly created Visibility Units across the country by officially instituting a co-sharing of premises with existing Police Stations, providing duty post logistics, suitable buildings for offices, office equipments to enable them to function more efficiently and professionally".

He said the public appealed to the Police Administration to replicate the welfare packages such as lunch among others, to the officers in the other regions.