Police officers are being denied holiday as police chiefs seek to swell their ranks amid growing insecurity in The Gambia.

There is a surge in crime rate with an alarming number of murder, robbery, and rape that has caused public outcry. 

A statement from the police chief to all officers in the country said “The Office of the Inspector General of Police hereby declares security standby for all personnel of the GPF across the country with effect from Friday 21st May, until further notice. 

“Henceforth, all off days are ceased until further notice. This includes all personnel regardless of formulation/unit.”

It also asked regional commisoners to intensify “foot and vehicular patrols.”

Meanwhile, the IGP Abdoulie Sanyang has said the number of crimes is going down since they started clampdown on crimanals hideout. 

But his remark is being scoffed at as false by scores of Gambians, who insisted crime is on the rise.

However, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, who leads the opposition Citizens’ Alliance, has again dismissed the joint security patrol dubbed ‘operation zero crime’ which seeks to battle the growing crime rate as a temporary security measure. 

“Operation Zero Crime unleashed by Police to curb rising crime is a makeshift rather than a permanent measure. Prison reform, investing in mental health, investing in young people (skills training and jobs), and initiating modern law enforcement operational strategies are key solutions for crime prevention.

“Crimes in the 21st century require 21st-century policing techniques to prevent and solve,” Dr Ceesay said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba