Security consultant Richard Kumadoe says the number of arrests, prosecutions and confiscation of assets are key benchmark measures of the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mr Kumadoe said these actions demonstrate the ability of security agencies to respond to threats against the state and put pressure on individuals and groups involved in criminal activities.
He said intensified enforcement action creates pressure on criminal networks and can force them to either go underground or withdraw from the system.
“Any time you are hearing a number of arrests, prosecutions, confiscation of assets, it’s a benchmark measure that the law enforcement officers are actually doing so well,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe explained that arrests and other enforcement measures should not be viewed as isolated actions but as part of the broader process of assessing the performance of security agencies.
He said effective law enforcement requires sustained pressure on criminal networks, particularly those involved in activities such as human trafficking, money laundering, financial crimes, drug trafficking and arms smuggling.
According to him, collaboration among security agencies is also critical in ensuring that criminal networks are effectively disrupted.
Mr Kumadoe cited the work of institutions including the police, BNI, NACOC and other security agencies, saying their combined efforts are important in tackling criminal activities.
“These are security agencies that are working together to ensure that if you wage a threat against the state, they have what it takes to come after you,” he said.
He added that when security agencies intensify arrests, prosecutions and asset confiscation, individuals involved in criminal activities may have limited options to continue operating.
“Anytime law enforcement becomes very aggressive with arrests, with confiscation of assets, with prosecution and confiscation of their assets, they either go underground or they run away from the system,” Mr Kumadoe said.
He further outlined some of the benchmarks he believes should be used globally to assess the performance of law enforcement agencies.
According to him, these include the number of arrests made, the quality of investigations, the cases pursued in the interest of the state and effective collaboration with international partners.
“Professionally, globally, a benchmark measure for law enforcement officers is five things. One, the number of arrests they have made. Two, quality investigation outcomes. Three, the cases they have made in the interest of the state. Number four, their effective collaboration with their international partners,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe stressed that sustained enforcement action, backed by collaboration among security institutions, can create significant pressure on criminal networks and restrict their ability to operate freely.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
