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| Police officers on parade |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 24TH 2007 (CUOPM) – The Cabinet has been hearing from the senior national security officials on issues related to crime and national security matters.
In an attempt to continue in a proactive and aggressive way to confront the issue crime and national security in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, a team of six members from the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mrs. Astona Browne brought a very detailed update on national security issues to the Cabinet on Monday and unveiled a multi-dimensional plan of action for further and more rapid response to crime and related issues.
Minister of Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty in the Post Cabinet Briefing said specific in-depth presentations were delivered by Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Stafford Liburd of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Major Leroy Percival of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.
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| Police Headquarters |
In outlining the 25 point strategic action plan, the national security chiefs cited improved management of staff and staff related-issues (including reviewing vacation, second job, work shift, and sick leave policies for officers), improvement in the organizational structure of the police force (including revisiting the usefulness of the Corporal rank in the Police Force), improved management of all police stations, the provision of the necessary crime-fighting equipment, and continuous local and overseas training and skills upgrading for officers, are crucial to the success of the new strategy.
He said that in relation to overseas training, attachments have been arranged with the Miami-Dade Police Department in Florida and training will now focus on cybercrimes, forensics and customer service response.
The High Command also cited low productivity, low crime detection capability, issues related to the deployment of manpower, a backlog of court cases pointing to the need to increase effectiveness in the judicial system and forensics, have presented enormous challenges to the security forces, but that these challenges are being slowly overcome.
It was also noted that plans to improve the visibility of the police in all communities in the Federation by strengthening its community policing programme, recruiting more suitable personnel for training and induction into the security forces, the motivation of force officers through providing opportunities for qualification for promotion and the instituting of appropriate award schemes, and the use of modern technology, are important and are already in full gear.
~~Adz:Left~~ “The chiefs of the Police Force and the Defence Force pledged to continue and improve coordination on joint intelligence operations involving the special branch unit, the drug squad and the Defence Force. They gave an overview of the recent successes of the Strike Force in reducing crime, confiscating weapons and illegal drugs, intercepting burglary and dismantling gangs” said Minister Carty.
He said that after the extensive and comprehensive presentation, Cabinet applauded the efforts of the security forces and the Ministry of National Security in the fight against crime and in the protection of life and property in the Federation.
Cabinet warned however that there was still a strong perception in the community that the security forces were not doing enough to prevent and solve crimes and that the full implementation of the strategic plan of action as outlined should be pursued carefully, yet aggressively and precipitously.
The security chiefs agreed with the observation but suggested that the media share some of the responsibility for the referenced perception and wanted government to articulate the need for greater support from the media (both print and electronic) in presenting a more balanced and more factual picture to all our citizens and residents.
Cabinet gives the assurance that it will give all the necessary support to the security forces and the ministry of National Security to ensure that citizen, residents and visitors can continue to live, work, do business, and conduct their lives in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and prosperity.
