POLICE ADMINISTRATION

Ghana Police Service

Security Guidelines

The mission of the Police Service is to provide you with the level of Security you need to enable you go about your duties in peace.

This is in recognition of the fact that you dutifully meet your tax obligations and we on our part have to make it possible for you to enjoy the peace that you deserve. Unfortunately we are notable to meet your security needs without you taking steps to assist in your own security.

We would therefore make certain suggestions for us to discuss how feasible their implementations are.

We have observed that most of the robberies recorded took place after midnight.

1. Therefore we will advice that you break your sleep around that time to be able to look out for intruders.We have always mentioned that we lack manpower, logistics etc. It is therefore difficult to get permanent Police guard for people who request.
   
   We advice you to:
2. Have well trained dogs who would alert you of an intruder in the house.
   
   Another way will be to:
3. Employ private security personnel to keep watch.
4. Educate your security people to question any suspicious persons who appear to be spying on you. Call the Police and give such information to them.
5. Do not struggle with robbers when they succeed in getting into your premises, because your life at that time will be at risk. What you have to do is try to observe the mannerism of your attackers, i.e. their voice, their gait, their height, colour and any other features you can observe. Most of the time, robbers look for big sums of money, jewellery, sound systems, camera, mobile phones, clothing and other valuable items.
   
   You will:
6. Refrain from keeping large sums of money on you. You may decide to keep and withdraw your money at the bank near to your destination. You will also give a particular identification mark to all your home electrical appliances, i.e. TV sets, video decks, sound systems, cameras etc. By marking your property, it will assist you to get back your stolen property.
   
   
7. Armed robbers use blocks and other implements to gain access into the premises of their victims. You will reinforce your main doors with iron gates which will be difficult to break in. Avoid leaving in your premises pieces of blocks which will lend as ready tools for your attackers.
   
   
8. Be on good terms with your neighbours so they will be ready to assist you in times of any attack. Help nurture a neighbourhood watch committee in your various areas and sustain it by making monetary contributions towards the upkeep of the committee. Be sure you present the members of the committee for vetting lest you employ criminals to keep watch over your property. Exchange telephone numbers with your neighbours, watch closely vehicles which you suspect are trailing you and drive to a safer place.
   
   Be on good terms with your neighbours so they will be ready to assist you in times of any attack. Help nurture a neighbourhood watch committee in your various areas and sustain it by making monetary contributions towards the upkeep of the committee. Be sure you present the members of the committee for vetting lest you employ criminals to keep watch over your property. Exchange telephone numbers with your neighbours, watch closely vehicles which you suspect are trailing you and drive to a safer place.
   

Leaving Your Home For A
When leaving your home for a trip or a holiday you must consider the following;

1. Ask your neighbour or friend to keep eye on your house and remove mail from the door mat. Persuade him to keep your lawn trimmed and if possible parka car on your drive.
   
2. You may also subtly cancel deliveries of newspapers etc.
   
3. Remove valuable or attractive items from view through your windows.
   
4. Make sure your garage doors are always locked.
   
5. Make sure your garage doors are always locked.
   
6. Don't close curtains or blinds as they are a give away during the day.
   
7. If you have an alarm, make sure it is set and you have informed your trusted neighbour.
   
   SECUERITY IN YOUR GARDEN
   Remember to lock away gardening tools and equipment in your garden shed, they make very good house breaking tools for the casual thief. If you have a ladder ensure that it cannot be used to gain access to open upstairs windows.
   
   Keep all garden fence in good repair and always padlock gates.
   
   Keep plants, hedges, and shrubs in your front garden below window sill height, also trim out the bottom growth of trees. Why give a burglar a screen to work behind.
   
   Consider any of the following;
   NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH:
   If you haven't joined one, do so now. Neighbourhood watch enables you to join with neighbour to fight local crime and help keep each other's property safe. Those living where there isn't any, get one going.
   
   BUSINESS WATCH
   Just like neighbourhood watch, whatever your organization makes or sells, you will have security problems in common with others around you.By linking together in a Business Watch, you can defeat the villains. Initiate moves and form Business Watch.
   
   LIGHTING
   Good lighting will deter the thief at night. There is now manually controlled photoelectric cell or movement detector lights which illuminate the porch and garden areas. This type of lighting switches on when movement is detected.
   
   ENTRY PHONES
   If you have an entry phone system installed in your house, be sure to check the identity of any caller before allowing access. If you do not have any try and install one.