BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMMISSIONER of POLICE Ian Queeley has set a target for the organization which he leads to reduce crime by 10 percent or more within the Federation this year.
The crime statistics for last year have yet to be released to the public but during the first Commissioner’s Lecture for the year held today (Jan. 9) at NEMA’s headquarters, Commissioner Queeley said 2016 was difficult and the 2017 outlook is “challenging” but he is optimistic that that feat could be achieved.
The most troubling areas of the crime fight for last year, Queeley expressed, were the increase in homicides, break-ins and violent crimes.
“Those were most prevalent throughout 2016 and we will do all that is required to reduce them… As 2017 rolls in, we want to redouble our efforts in our crime fighting area.
“…I would want to see us over the next 12-24 months, based on the strategies that we would have outlined in our Strategic Plan and in our Six Point Plan of action, see a reduction in criminal activities by at least 10 percent. I would also wish to see the reduction of fear of crime within the community because in many instances in this society, the fear of crime is worse than the crime itself. And so we will do what is required to ensure that that is done.”
The Commissioner said in working towards the reduction, a number of preventative and investigative strategies would be employed by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. These include more visibility in and interaction with the community, the coming on stream of the CCTV project and building up the forensic capacity of the Police Force.
He indicated that the process would also involve introspection by his subordinates.
“But even before we get to those strategies, we have to recognize that having done some introspection…that we have to overcome some internal struggles, first one being that of supervision. We have a lot of issues with supervisors and managers.
“And so we are expecting that in 2017 you will be held more accountable and so by being held more accountable you would hold those that report to you more accountable. And this is not rocket science, it is just straight supervision of your persons.”
