May 13, 2025
With traditional methods proving insufficient in the fight against emerging trends in crime, Guyana’s Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken is calling for enhanced internal intelligence to tackle offences such as cybercrime.
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has revealed a surge in crimes ranging from gender-based violence, human trafficking, and cybercrime, warning that organized criminal networks are becoming increasingly coordinated and transnational.
Police Commissioner,
Clifton Hicken
He said that the region’s traditional national policing models are no longer sufficient to combat these evolving threats and, thus, additional ways to solve these crimes must be considered.
The police commissioner made this call during the opening ceremony of the 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, held at the at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“Our traditionally and nationally confined policing models are no longer sufficient. The threats are clear. Organized criminal networks are increasingly coordinated and rootless. Illicit firearm trafficking is fueling gang warfare and a sheer rise in youth homicides. Human trafficking, particularly involving women and children, is taking root across our territories. Cybercrime is exploiting our financial institutions, government systems, and sensitive personal data.”
He further stated that gender-based and domestic violence is escalating, threatening the safety of women and families across the region.
A section of the gathering at the 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police on Monday
Another issue, drug dependency, he stated, continues to drive crime and vulnerabilities. Most concerning, public trust in law and law enforcement, he mentioned, is eroding, especially among the youth. He noted that it is evident criminal networks are already working across borders.
“This demands that we build entrepreneurship across agencies—from police and customs, the financial intelligence unit, and social services. it requires real-time intelligence sharing, regional surveillance, joint task forces, and the standardization of protocol and training.”
He further stressed the urgency of the matter, stating that the time has changed and that progress must be made as opposed to promises.
“This is not a time for promise. this is a time for measurable progress. ‘united in action’ must mean shared operations, common platforms, and unified enforcement. ‘Transform in purpose’ must mean a shift towards prevention, preservation, and inclusion. and building an integrated Caribbean security architecture must not remain a concept. it must become our collective legacy.”
Amidst all of this, he mentioned that while the region strengthens operational systems, we must also return to people-centered policing.
“Community trust is not a byproduct. It is a foundation of security. We must engage our youths as partners, support victims, and invest in preservation strategies to stop violence before it starts.”
The Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), established in 1987, is the premier regional body for promoting professional policing. With a membership comprising Commissioners of Police from 25 Caribbean jurisdictions, the ACCP seeks to strengthen law enforcement cooperation, improve technical competencies, and develop unified responses to crime and security threats in the region.