Police outline measures to ensure ‘incident free’ Christmas

The Ghana Police Service has outlined elaborate measures dubbed "Operation Father Christmas" to maintain law and order before, during and after the yuletide.

The move forms part of initiatives at ensuring that the public celebrate the Christmas festivities in a calm atmosphere.

This was made known at a media briefing in Accra.

Director of Public Affairs of the Service, DSP Cephas Arthur speaking to Radio Ghana after the news conference said confidence route matches would be organised in all the regional capitals to show the public their level of preparedness.

DSP Cephas Arthur said the Police will also undertake intelligence swoops to get criminals out of their hideouts.

Meanwhile, the Police Service has in a statement signed by the Director General of Public Affairs, DCOP David Ampah-Benin, reminded the public of the provisions of Executive Instrument 21 of 1999, which prohibits the manufacture, possession or carriage of specific categories of explosives; Fire Crackers often known as Knockouts, Display Shells, Artillery Shells; and Ball and Canister Shells.

The Service says to ensure strict compliance with the provision, personnel deployed for 'Operation Father Christmas' have been charged to arrest any person or group of persons who act contrary to the Instrument for prosecution.

Members of the public in possession of these prohibited explosives are therefore advised to deposit them with the Police Officer in charge at the nearest Police Station.

The service calls on the public to co-operate with the directives for an incident free Christmas.

GBC