FECAS - ECSVS Forum

If it’s too good to be true then do not get involved

13-October-2014
The Police Fraud Unit is appealing to the general public not to be conned or fall in the traps of fraudsters through all sorts of scam schemes.

The appeal comes at a time when certain individuals have exhausted all their savings and are now going around borrowing money from others with the promise that they will refund with interest after receiving their millions from abroad.

Little do those scam victims know that the personal information sought from them to get big money in return were solely for the purpose of eventual money extortion and defrauding them.

Scam schemes are normally tempting, too good to be true and very deceitful. By manipulating their victims to send money for payment, transfers or registrations fees criminals makes millions if not billions every day.

The police are therefore calling on each and every individual to be smart, very careful and avoid communicating or give any information or personal data to people they do not know especially if or when contacted by foreigners electronically or physically for deals like; overseas job recruitment, winning of lottery, jackpots or transfer and sharing of inherited fortunes.

Members of the general public are also being informed and warned that allowing oneself to fall victim to fraudster through scam schemes can not only lead you to financial bankruptcy but also allow more serious criminal activities to take place. One example is that by deliberately giving all your personal data to people you do not know, that person can even steal your identity and commit crimes in your name, crimes that you may well have to answer to.

The police said that due to the fact that they do not have jurisdiction to conduct investigation abroad, it is extremely difficult to track those fraudsters involved in such criminal activities because of so many diversions and fictitious names they create while transacting. It is best that members of the general public should completely ignore responding to any scam mails, letters, texts or even phone calls. These activities can also be reported to the police.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243285

Minister explains appointment of foreigner as deputy police chief

22-October-2014
Seychelles needs a police force which is well trained and professional to address the different challenges society is facing today and to continue to offer the quality of service required to maintain order and peace, Minister Joel Morgan has said.

The Minister for Home Affairs and Transport said this in the National Assembly yesterday while explaining the government’s decision to appoint a foreigner as deputy police commissioner.

The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre had asked Minister Morgan to explain the reason behind the government’s decision to appoint a foreigner in this position.

“More than ever the police need to stay updated with new development both at national and international level and continue to meet the expectations of the public,” Minister Morgan pointed out.

He noted that the force at present comprises a group of senior officers as well as newly trained cadres.

“The police need to review all aspects of its development namely its human resource, its strategy, its administration and for this to be made possible the police need someone with the expertise and experience to help them develop their different sections and units,” Minister Morgan said.

He explained that it is in this context that the government together with the police have established that it was appropriate to recruit a foreigner in the person of Brigadier Vernon Hunter with a lot of experience and expertise for the position.

Minister Morgan said the new deputy commissioner appointed in September this year is working closely with police commissioner Ernest Quatre and the police administration for an appropriate period of time to mentor, develop and equip members of the police force so that they can take command and occupy senior positions in the force.

“In the past there has been remarkable contributions to the force made by foreigners notably Frank Dutton who set up the NCSD unit which has led to the country’s remarkable reduction of more than 30% in criminal activities and the police need to further improve on these results,” Minister Morgan stressed.

He noted that the new deputy commissioner will play a major role in carrying out the new strategic plan the police force is expected to put into effect soon.

“The police need a workforce which is well trained and better equipped so they can discharge their responsibility and carry out their duties more effectively,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that Mr Hunter was interviewed by a panel who agreed that he was the right person for the position.

Minister Morgan noted that since his appointment Mr Hunter has submitted different plans and propositions which are presently being studied before being considered and put in application.

Source Seychelles Nation

New scheme of service for police to cost over R30 million

22-October-2014
A new scheme of service for the police is expected to cost the government over R30 million and if all goes as planned it will come into effect early next year.

The Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan gave these details during Question Time in the National Assembly yesterday morning.

He was answering a question put to him by elected member for Mont Buxton Sheryl Vengadasamy.

She had asked Minister Morgan about his ministry’s plan to review the scheme of service for police officers.

Minister Morgan informed the Assembly that the police have drafted a new scheme of service with more incentives for its officers as well as the possibility to better improve their working conditions.

He explained that this will apply to all officers in the force, from cadet, constables on training as well as other ranks from the different sections and specialised units of the force.

It will also provide for career development, training, promotion, allowances, pensions, gratuity and compensation payments.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243397

Old-timers in police force rewarded

12-January-2015

Long-serving officers of the Seychelles Police Force have been rewarded.

They received awards and medals on Friday during their annual meeting with the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan, who is responsible for the police.

The event was attended by senior and other officers of the force, partners and other distinguished guests.

The meeting has become an annual event on the police calendar where the minister highlights the force’s achievements, challenges, failures and the way forward to overcome those challenges.

The medals were awarded to police officers who have served, 44, 40, 35, 25, 20 and 15 years in the force. Chief superintendent Guy Roucou is the oldest serving officer and he received the Meritorious medal award for his long term of service. Chief superintendent Philip Cecile received the long service medal, having clocked 40 years in the force, while the Medal of Valour went to assistant superintendent Abraham Isaac for his courage, devotion and good character.

While thanking the police officers for their hard work in 2014, Minister Morgan said that sometimes he had to ‘breathe down their neck’ as they say because sometimes his role and responsibility call for that.

It is also to ensure that they maintain focus on their objectives and targets so as to deliver.

He also acknowledged that this past year has not been easy for the force as demand for services has increased tremendously with planned and unplanned events, making their tasks at times more challenging.

“With all the challenges faced in 2014, the police force nonetheless managed to stabilise the level of crime committed in some areas, while in others you worked with diligence to arrest negative trends which caused a slight increase to the level of crime nationally, this being 3% rise,” said minister Morgan, adding that the force’s objectives this year is to see once again a reduction in the level of crime in our country.

The minister also noted the achievements of last year which in certain areas he said can be used to solidify the force’s approach as regards to police operations for the year and for the future so thay they can aspire to achieve even more.

“Where the police force has not achieved well then it must better prepare itself and to plan accordingly for I will not permit a substandard police service whatsoever,” said the minister.

He also mentioned the need for a good human resources section to achieve a good level of personnel and personal development.

The creation of the Police Marine Unit, which will be fully commissioned this year following the arrival of new boats and the assistance of the EU Navfor are other accomplishments and an added and needed boost to the force’s overall efforts in the fight to detect, deter and apprehend criminals using the sea around us for their criminal activities but as well as for curbing wild life crime and poaching.

As on land with vehicles, the minister said the force will modernise its legislation where needed so that boat operators can operate their craft with safety in mind and to a legal standard.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244190

Ups and downs in crime statistics

13-January-2015
• Arrive Alive campaign proves to be successful


Mr Bursik and Mr Jacklin during their presentations

The police have reported both rise and decline in the various crime categories in the last 12 months whereas the newly launched Arrive Alive campaign has been described as proving to be successful.

These were made public during presentations by superintendents Bruce Bursik and Sean Jacklin on the Crime Statistics, Crime Stopper initiative and the Arrive Alive campaign during Friday’s meeting of the Seychelles Police Force with the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, who is also responsible for the police.

The meeting, held at the International Conference Centre (ICCS), has become an annual event on the police calendar.

As stated by the Seychelles Commissioner of Police Ernest Quatre during his speech, it is an occasion for the minister to address the police on its achievements, challenges, failures and the way forward to overcome these challenges in the coming year for the betterment of the force.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244201

Minister Bastienne visits police head quarters: ‘We need to make things happen’

04-February-2015


After having been sworn in as the new Minister for Home Affairs before President James Michel at State House on Monday morning, Charles Bastienne said that upon appointing him, the president had urged that he and his colleagues work to “make things happen”.

The short phrase seems to have become the minister’s new motto and guiding philosophy, as he has reminded members of the police force.

“We need to make things happen,” he told senior police officers when he met them at the police headquarters yesterday morning. This was during the first of a series of visits which the minister is currently conducting of departments under his ministry. Those include the prison, immigration and civil status.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244411

New computer forensic laboratory commissioned

08-May-2015

The collection and transmission of evidence being essential in the ongoing fight against crime, the Seychelles law enforcement unit has commissioned a new computer forensic laboratory.

The new facility which has been funded by the European Union and Interpol and is based in the Seychelles Police building at Mont Fleuri, was inaugurated on Thursday morning by French ambassador to Seychelles Lionel Majesté-Larrouy in his capacity as the European representative, police commissioner Ernest Quatre and Interpol project manager Serge Epouhe.

This was in the presence of Home Affairs Minister Charles Bastienne, senior police officers among other distinguished guests.

Addressing everyone who had come to witness the event, assistant commissioner for policing, Reginald Elizabeth said the system will help the police force fight against crime.

“The computer forensic laboratory will empower us to protect innocent victims as well as apprehend offenders and bring them to justice,” said Mr Elizabeth.
He added that the new equipment will come in handy for the police force.

“The new lab is equipped with sufficient resources which will help examiners investigate and evaluate data in various electronic devices such as notebook, desktop PC, hard disk, SD card, smart phones and GPS,” he added.

Mr Elizabeth also pointed out that computer technology plays a crucial role in our daily lives as it brings many advantages to our people and the country but it is unfortunate that some people use it to commit or make easier criminal activities. But he noted that these are challenges of the 21st century which the police have no option but to develop their capacity to be able to deal with.

Expressing sincere gratitude to the EU and the Interpol Mr Elizabeth informed everyone present that local specialists have also received adequate training and are now skilled to make good use of the new equipment.

Mr Elizabeth expressed the wish that this invaluable support, collaboration and partnership with the EU and the Interpol will continue in the future.

Ambassador Majesté-Larrouy for his part pointed out that it is impossible to develop the blue economy amidst maritime insecurity.

“The use of the sea by criminal networks also undermines peace, stability and development of regional states, including the Indian Ocean island states,” he said.

He added that it is for this reason that the EU has always been the first to support capacity-building of regional states, reinforce security on maritime routes in the Indian Ocean and fight all criminal-related activities.

Following the opening of the facility guests were led on a tour during which they received detailed explanations on how the computer facility functions.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=245340