Police surveillance breach: Tighter controls, new legislation planned for access to police surveillance system – Ministry

The Home Affairs Ministry has called for a comprehensive review of access controls, personnel and procedures at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Command Centre at Liliendaal following the alleged unauthorised access, extraction and disclosure of police surveillance footage. The Ministry, in a statement on Monday, said the breach was a matter of concern to both the Ministry and the national security services, noting that it could affect the confidentiality of law enforcement operations.

The matter is currently under police investigation. “The matter is now under police investigation, which must proceed on the evidence and in accordance with the law,” the Ministry said, adding that political office does not confer immunity from investigation and political affiliation cannot be a basis for prosecution.

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The statement came another police rank, this time Police Constable Ashton Chappelle, 24, was charged under the Cybercrime Act in connection with the alleged downloading and transfer of surveillance footage from the GPF Command Centre. Chappelle, also known as “Chappy”, of Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts on Monday before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, where he was charged with obtaining and giving electronic data relating to the national security of the State, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) and Section 9(2)(b) of the Cybercrime Act No. 16 of 2018.