BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the Police Force looking to put a lid on the number of criminal activities occurring on the streets, recently-appointed Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley will start by fully enforcing the 10:00 p.m. Curfew for juveniles found loitering on the streets.
Queeley told SKNVibes that the Curfew would form part of the Force’s crime fighting strategy going forward.
“The law under the Criminal Amendment Act speaks to juveniles and their whereabouts after 10:00 p.m. Certainly we will be pursuing that as part of our strategy in terms of ensuring that the parents demonstrate some measure of accountability for their kids,” Queeley told SKNVibes in an exclusive interview.
There have been talks in recent times about parents shirking the responsibility of knowing where their children are and with whom they associate.
Just recently, newly-appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police with Responsibility for the Administration, Resources, Technology and Intelligence Directorate, Marclyn Hughes, pleaded with parents to act more responsibly in the upbringing of their children.
Following the October 2015 shooting-death of Philo Wallace in Nevis, there was much talk about the Police Force not doing enough to clamp down on juveniles roaming the streets after 10:00 p.m.
Additionally, some juveniles have been found partying at popular night spots including the Frigate Bay Strip, as in the case of 17-year-old Wallace who was shot in Enrique’s Bar at approximately 3:45 a.m. following an altercation with a police officer.
Commissioner Queeley explained that it is currently a transition period for the new High Command but consideration would be quickly given in getting the ball rolling with their crime fighting strategies.
“As you may know, this is a transition period but, apart from being a transition period, we are looking very seriously at the fact that we have to take action very swiftly. So once we would have met as an executive for the High Command, we would determine the priorities and the strategies to roll out.”
The COP informed that in the next few weeks they would be holding discussions to ascertain areas in need of high police visibility, including popular hangout spots, and the appropriate decisions would be taken.
“The Strip, like any other area, once it is determined it deserves high police visibility, that would be enforced. We would certainly do the analysis and once it is done we will continue to enforce the laws.”
