Police Public Affairs Director, DSP Kwesi Ofori says the police are determined to meet the president’s objective of ensuring safe and secure country for all. President J. E. A. Mills during his inauguration declared Ghanaians under his presidency will no longer live in fear of armed attacks by miscreants. Now, the police say they are working assiduously to help him realize that goal. "The Police Administration is determined to fight criminals to bring them to justice." Speaking to Joy News’ Evans Mensah, DSP Ofori said a crunch meeting was called immediately following the president’s declaration to discuss how to tackle the menace. Every available resource – human and material – was mobilized to fight the battle against crime. Community-police partnerships have consequently been revised and inter-agency collaboration strengthened. The result of these efforts, he said, is a comparative reduction in the level of crime in the first quarter of the year. "The first quarter of this year, we have recorded 201 violent crimes throughout the country and we have made a lot of arrests," compared to about 400 last year. But the modest gains, he believes, can only be sustained if the general public commit to helping the police to do their work. According to him, modern policing encumbers civilians to get actively involved in combating crime. DSP Ofori said poor planning of cities and towns also militated against rapid response to distress calls. He therefore suggests naming of streets and proper planning of communities to enhance easy identification of, and access to, crime scenes. In the meantime, however, the police he said will continue to do their best to provide adequate security for the people. "Let me reassure Ghanaians that their police will work for their betterment...we are there to justify the tax payer's money and we will do so at the peril of our lives." Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com