Police chief Pinas seeks closer ties with citizens: “There is a great deal of information within society”

The visit took place as part of the ‘Kon Mit KC’ initiative, through which Pinas aims to strengthen trust between the Korps Politie Suriname (KPS, Suriname Police Force) and the public. The police commissioner was accompanied by several staff members. The programme began at the Keizerstraat police station, where a briefing was held and the cell block was visited. The delegation then proceeded on foot to the markets to speak with stallholders and other citizens.

Fear of reprisals hinders information-sharing

According to Pinas, society has a great deal of valuable information about criminal offences and criminal activities. However, citizens are not always willing to tell their stories openly because they fear for their safety.

During his visit, the police commissioner observed that several market vendors were reluctant to speak on camera. He therefore wants to examine with his team how the police can organise conversations with citizens in an accessible and confidential manner.

“There is a great deal of intelligence within society that people want to share. And these are the moments. When you get close to them, you see that they open up and then you get that information,” Pinas told the Communicatie Dienst Suriname (CDS, Suriname Communication Service). According to him, information obtained during such conversations is immediately passed on to the responsible police departments, so that action can be taken where necessary.

Police commissioner wants to go to the people himself

Pinas stressed that upon taking office, he had already indicated that he wanted to improve the relationship between the police and society. According to him, it is important for the police not to operate exclusively from their stations, but also to be actively present in neighbourhoods and residential areas. “I want to be close to society with my team,” the police commissioner said. He notes that there is a certain fear within the community of speaking with the police, while many citizens do feel the need to bring their problems to attention. “And that is why I said: ‘No, I will go to the people,’” Pinas said.

The police chief is convinced that personal contact helps provide a better understanding of the security problems citizens face daily. “When you are with the people, you see what concerns them,” he stated.

Noise nuisance from mopeds remains major problem

Noise nuisance also emerged prominently during the conversations. According to the police commissioner, loud music and the noise from modified mopeds in particular cause considerable annoyance among citizens. Pinas indicated that the KPS has already taken measures to address this nuisance. Mopeds that do not comply with the rules are confiscated. According to him, the police storage facility is now full of such vehicles. Nevertheless, the problem persists. The police commissioner acknowledges that a more structural approach is needed to genuinely reduce the nuisance.

More neighbourhood discussions to come

Through the ‘Kon Mit KC’ initiative, Pinas intends to continue focusing on direct communication with the public in the period ahead. Neighbourhood visits and community discussions should not only make the police more accessible, but also contribute to the quicker identification of crime and other security problems. The police commissioner asks citizens to share their concerns, experiences and information on criminal activities with the police during these meetings. According to Pinas, the police can carry out their work more effectively when citizens feel safe enough to provide information and when there is mutual trust between the force and the community.