The Ministry of Home Affairs has published guidelines for members of the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department on several areas that have caused much inconvenience to motorists.
Among the guidelines listed by the Home Affairs Ministry are, that
– Traffic ranks are not authorized to solicit motorists to provide any favour to them including the supply of meals, cash or the provision of anything not connected with the performance of their duties. Both parties are liable to be charged criminally.
– Ranks or members of the Force are not authorized to take away any Driver’s Licence or other documents unless the driver fails to give his/her name and address or the documents are suspected to be forged or unlawfully obtained.
– Traffic tickets are to be issued to errant drivers for minor offences. Vehicles should not be detained for minor offences.
– Junior traffic ranks should not detain vehicles at police stations for unnecessarily long periods of time without probable cause and the express authority of their superiors.
– Traffic ranks are expected to be courteous to motorists and other occupants of vehicles. They must at all times act impartially.
According to the Home Affairs Ministry complaints of misconduct of Traffic Ranks should be lodged with the relevant law enforcement agencies, including:
– The Ministry of Home Affairs-Brickdam, Georgetown
– The Police Complaints Authority-Brickdam, Georgetown
– The Commissioner of Police-Police Headquarters, Eve Leary
– The Office of Professional Responsibility-Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, or
– Any Divisional Commander.
