Africa-Press – Gambia. The objective of the operation was to tackle crime and criminal activities within communities and to dismantle all criminal hideouts, as well as prosecute offenders in accordance with the Law.
Over the weekend a total number of 117 people including three females were arrested at various criminal hideouts within the Greater Banjul and West Coast Regions. Among the number of people arrested, 15 were arrested at Banjul Region, 75 arrested at Kanifing Region and 27 arrested at West Coast Region.
According to the police, they were arrested in connection with several offences including going armed in public, assault causing actual bodily harm, possession of suspected drugs, possession of suspected stolen properties, idle and disorderly manners, and attempt to commit felony among others.
They are currently being processed for court actions.
“The public is assured that; the conduct of the security personnel shall be strictly within the confines of the Law. To ensure this, the Police High Command has instituted a strong Inspectorate Unit to regularly supervise and monitor the activities of security personnel, in a bid to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of Law.”
The police notified the public that they may be seeing high presence of security movements within their vicinities as routine patrols will be intensified. However, they said people are urged not to panic and should go about doing their lawful businesses.
“Individuals going armed in public with knives and other small weapons will be stopped and searched and anyone found wanting will be processed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law,” says the police.”
Similarly, police say all criminal dens, vous, ghettos, and criminal hideouts will be targeted during the exercise.
“Members of the public who wish to travel outside or leave their homes for other reasons during odd hours of the night are accordingly encouraged to carry with them documents for identification purposes.”
“The public is further reminded that, it is our collective responsibility to collaborate and partner with the security in the fight against crime.”
