Police to scale down deployment in private premises

By Steven Candia                             

The Police are considering scaling down deployments in private premises so as concentrate on general policing with the view of enhancing public safety.

Kampala police boss Haruna Isabirye Wednesday said they had began evaluating the practice with a view of causing a shift.

“We are reviewing deployments at private premises because we want to concentrate on general patrols so that the public can benefit more,” Isabirye said, adding that deployments at private premises are constraining service delivery.

“It is affecting our operations,” Isabirye said but declined to divulge how many officers are presently deployed at private premises, such as homes on a daily basis.

As to whether the scaling down would affect premises of very important persons he said: “We have a whole unit for VIP protection,” and advised owners of private premises guarded by the Police to employ the services of private security organizations (PSOs).

The Police have the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) which is tasked with protecting important persons and dignitaries.

He appealed to the public to understand the move by the police, saying it is in the best interest of the public because ‘it will translate into increased patrols-both foot and motorized’ and it is anticipated that this will lead to enhanced security and public safety.