CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – DESPITE appearances to the contrary, there has been a reduction in the number of crimes reported on Nevis in 2009, compared to that of 2008.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for Crime, Joseph Liburd, told a luncheon meeting of the Nevis Chamber of Commerce last Thursday at the Patio that the number of crimes reported at the end of September 2009 is 242. This compares favourably to the same period in 2008 when the figure was 269.
According to Liburd, what has increased is the category deemed ‘crimes against property’, which stood at 168 at the end of September. The figure for the corresponding period in 2008 stood at 156 while in 2007 it was 130. He said the 2009 figures increased a great deal over August and September and have since caused the Nevis Department to form a special Crime Patrol Unit. Since then, the numbers have reportedly decreased.
Liburd said that over the years, Nevisians have been more concerned with the ‘crimes against property’ such as break-ins and larceny, whereas on St. Kitts the concern for residents has been more violence-related crimes like shootings, robberies, murders and wounding, especially when firearms are used.
According to Liburd the residents of Nevis are therefore naturally worried because, despite the decrease in overall crime, there has been an increase in the crimes that cause them concern. He expressed hope that the new unit would help to keep the “crimes of concern” figure below that of last year when it was 201.
Liburd told the business owners that their concerns were shared by the leadership of the Nevis Division of the Federation’s Police Force. He said Superintendent Samuel Seabrooks and Inspector Hilroy Brandy, who were both present, have been seeking help from the Police High Command to plot the best way forward.
Apart from the establishment of the Crime Patrol Unit, officers are also carrying out stop and search operations, as well as conducting searches of homes of suspects. According to Liburd, this is expected to go on for the rest of the year when there would be a review.
“This should be able to help us to not only deter others and would-be buyers of stolen items, but we should also be able to catch some of those persons who are involved in the stealing.”
The ACP explained that the Force is looking at other ways to curtail the crime situation. These include speaking to the Port Authority about having the ferries re-introduce the system of having passengers write down their names, in an effort to help curtail transporting of stolen items between the islands.
While admitting that the Force is a little short on human resources, Liburd revealed that a batch of 22 officers are currently in training, and hopefully an adequate amount would be allocated to Nevis at the end of their stint.
“We would have liked to have more resources but we are working to make the best of what is available in order to return Nevis to where it used to be.”
Liburd urged the businessmen and businesswomen to set up their own systems of surveillance cameras and other alarms, since they all help in crime prevention and detection.
