The Seychelles Police has commissioned its new fleet of 36 vehicles, one of which is destined for the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency.

The fleet is a grant from the government of India at the request of former Home Affairs Minister Charles Bastienne.

Besides vehicles, the package also comprises spare parts, materials for uniforms and police accessories.

Present at the commissioning was Mitcy Larue, the current Minister for Home Affairs; acting high commissioner of India Anindya Banerjee, Commissioner of Police Reginald Elizabeth, among other officials and staff of the Seychelles Police.

The vehicles, consisting of jeeps, cars and dog pens, will be distributed to different units and stations of the force.

It was Mr Banerjee who handed over the keys of the vehicles to Compol Elizabeth who later on handed them over to each station commanders and officers in charge of units.

The newly appointed Minister for Home Affairs Mitcy Larue yesterday continued her visits of the various police stations around Mahé.

Minister Larue and her delegation comprising Commissioner of Police Reginald Elizabeth, special advisor Sheryl Vangadasamy, among other police officers started their visit at the station at the Seychelles International Airport (SIA), Pointe Larue and ended at the Mont Fleuri police station.

The purpose of the familiarisation visit was to inspect the environment in which the police officers are working as well as to find out how best the ministry could assist the police to improve services.

At the airport’s station Minister Larue got the opportunity to interact with staff  and listened attentively to their problems.

“Since I am the new Minister for Home Affairs, it was an opportunity for me to visit the police family, as part of an ongoing visit. I need to make sure that I visit each unit that falls under my department, and for me to see first hand what kind of activities and services each department is offering to the public. It also gives me an opportunity to dialogue with the staff. I must continue the splendid work that my colleague minister Charles Bastienne has done so far,” she said.

She pointed out that much work needs to be done to bring the police department to the next level.

“During my visit I was made aware of some issues that my ministry will have to resolve such as the lack of resources. The police department is working on a new pilot programme at the Central Police Station to reduce the shift of the staff from four to three, due to the fact that working in the police department can be exhausting. So this new programme will give the officers an opportunity to be more pro-active, and more rest time,” she said.

The minister concluded her visit at the Mont Fleuri police station where she got the opportunity to interact with the staff personally in a closed door meeting to discuss about their problems.

“The Mont Fleuri district is an area that has got a lot of crime, and we need more workforce to reduce the amount of work the officers currently have to do. Also we have many issues in the traffic section; we are having many fatal accidents this year. We will have to put in place a national education programme on the need for the public to take their road safety more seriously. Make sure that people do not drive drunk, wear their seatbelts among many other pertinent issues.  In terms of crime in each station that I have visited the level of crime is reducing, but our target is to continue such great job, make sure our citizens are safe,” she said.

She added that the Mont Fleuri police station will be renovated completely to make sure that each section in the police department has their own area and space to accommodate their work. Also in 2018 the airport will have a better police station.

The accompanying photos show Minister Larue and her entourage during their visits.