BRADES, Montserrat, March 21st, 2012  –  Police Commissioner Steve Foster said Wednesday the Royal Montserrat Police Service is ready to take decisive action to curb the increased criminal activity on island.

The commissioner made an official statement on ZJB Radio Montserrat on Wednesday, following a holiday weekend marred by two serious incidents, one still to be resolved.

“Let it be known that we will take the fight to the criminals using all lawful means,” Commissioner Foster declared. “We intend to spare no resources to take back control of this island and to bring all criminal elements to justice. We intend to ensure that Montserrat immediately returns to a state of normality.”

He appealed to the public to share information with the police to assist them in ongoing enquiries. “Withholding information will help no one, and only serves to put more people at risk and contribute to the deterioration of our peaceful and tranquil island. Our tourism product is being destroyed by all those who perpetuate these offences. The Montserrat which we once knew and love is fast losing its identity as a peaceful and tranquil island. We cannot sit by and allow this to happen.”

“This lawlessness has also gone into our schools. I want to advise our students and young people that resorting to violence is not the way to settle disputes. There are several other ways of settling differences and disputes.

There is a complaints process in school or alternatively, the criminal justice system.  Please do not destroy your future by making irrational decisions today. Think before you act. Violence and criminal activity is not worth your while,” he cautioned.

His Excellency the Governor Adrian Davis announced Wednesday that he has ordered an independent full-scale review of the police force to be undertaken in May, following incidents of misconduct within the force and a “significant rise” in criminal activity.

Governor Davis said visitors note Montserrat’s relative crime free status as one of the main reasons for visiting and returning time after time. “We cannot afford to lose that identity.”

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