20 policing groups liaison, executive officers trained to combat human trafficking
Twenty community policing groups (CPG) liaison and executive officers completed a trafficking in persons (TIP) training seminar to strengthen their capacity to detect and respond to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
The one-day seminar, hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP), brought together officers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten.
The training, dubbed “Introduction to Trafficking in Persons and Response Mechanisms,” was held at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre on Camp Road on Wednesday.
Coordinator of the Ministerial Taskforce on TIP, Daniel Griffith, stressed the importance of equipping frontline officers with the knowledge and tools needed for early detection of trafficking and related forms of exploitation.
He noted that strengthening reporting mechanisms and improving access to victim support services remain critical in the nation’s fight against trafficking in persons.
The training covered key areas such as the definition of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, forms of exploitation and indicators of trafficking, and the application of the Trafficking in Persons Act 2023.
Participants were also trained in victim identification for adults and children, safe reporting mechanisms, and trauma-informed care.
Additional sessions addressed the role of law enforcement and community policing groups, inter-agency collaboration, and the link between drug use and criminal activity.
Interactive discussions and practical exercises formed part of the programme, allowing participants to build skills in identifying victims, responding appropriately, and utilising referral systems for recovery and support.
The initiative forms part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national capacity to combat trafficking in persons, enhance victim protection, and improve coordination among key stakeholders.
Presentations were also delivered by representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force’s Trafficking in Persons Unit, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ministry of Human Services’ Counter-Trafficking Unit, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit.