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The Ghana Police Service on Thursday said it would deploy over 14,200 Police Officers to beef up operational duties across the country before, during and after the Christmas season.

     There shall be 18,000 other personnel, performing traditional police duties, which are indirectly related to the duties for the festive period.

     Commissioner of Police (COP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Director General for Operations, said this in Accra during a press briefing on the National Policing strategies rolled out to maintain law and order before during and after the festive period.

     COP Dampare said the Police administration was optimistic that personnel would deliver professionally with the required logistics at hand.

     He said the Police was aware of increased activities during the festive occasions, and that, there were several security concerns, including robberies on highways, streets and residential areas.

     He also mentioned burglaries, theft, fraud, pick pocketing, traffic congestion and the unlawful use of fire crackers, which caused fear, panic and injuries, as issues of public concern.

     COP Dampare said considering those security concerns, the Police would provide nationwide law enforcement and traffic management services, adding that, “This shall be accomplished by ensuring the prevention and detection of crimes, protection of lives and property, management of traffic, maintenance of Public order and ensuring the welfare of personnel,” he said.

     The Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service said personnel have been instructed to go the extra mile to manage traffic situations in the major cities, as well as the entry and exit points of the country.

     “Despite the fact that a lot has been done to reduce crimes on the highways and other crime prone roads, especially during market days and other special events, we are deepening our presence on the roads in various forms,” he added.

     COP Dampare further mentioned commercial, street and Entertainment Centers, residential areas as some of the places that patrolling would also be intensified.

     He said the Police would pursue criminals at their dens, adding that, “Criminals would have no place to hide”.

     He observed that for the Police to succeed in their operations, it was important they worked on themselves whilst the Police administration dealt with their welfare and professional development.

  COP Dampare further called for support from the public and other stakeholders, noting that, security was a shared responsibility and that there was the need to make that saying a reality.

     On the issue of land guards, COP Dampare said the Police had been aggressive in combating their activities and that they were going to do more work in that area.

     He said the Police Administration would extend its operations around security installations to ensure that they were not vandalized either deliberately or otherwise by any individual or group of persons.

     “The Police Administration would engage community members at all levels as they patrol and use ICT and Social media Platforms to give security tips and also use them as sources of intelligence gathering,” he added.

    He later addressed a parade and urged the officers to comport themselves wherever they may be posted.