BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- COMMISSIONER of Police James Sutton is reassuring the public that the Police Force is actively working to combat the escalating crime problem affecting the territory, particularly as the number of homicides continues to rise.
The Federation recorded its 25th homicide of the year when the lifeless body of 42-year-old Azziwah Niles-Jones of Lower Prickley Pear Alley was discovered on Tuesday night (Aug. 25). Niles-Jones was found slouched over in the driver’s seat of his motor pickup on the Island Main Road in Keys.
In a national address, Commissioner Sutton emphasized that “acts of violence tear at the very fabric of our communities and challenge our collective sense of security and well-being.”
His statement comes amid heavy criticism directed at the police force, the government, and civil society over the recent surge in gun violence.
“Be assured that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is fully committed to addressing these crimes with the utmost seriousness. We are mobilizing all available resources and deploying specialized units to investigate these incidents. All available intelligence-gathering devices will be employed to get to the core of these vicious acts. We vow to be more proactive than reactive in our crime fighting efforts. By this, our focus is mainly prevention rather than detection,” Sutton stated.
He further stressed the importance of bringing those responsible for these criminal acts to justice, noting that it is crucial in preventing retaliatory violence. "The Police's main goal is to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent further violence," he added.
The Commissioner called for a unified effort from the communities to tackle the crime issue and prevent further "onslaught and impact of these criminal acts."
He reminded the public that community safety relies on the cooperation between the public and law enforcement. "We urge members of the communities to take a stand with us. Together, we can achieve so much more," Sutton stated.
In this vein, he encouraged anyone with information to come forward, assuring that reports can be made directly to the police or anonymously if preferred.
Finally, Sutton issued a stern warning to those engaged in criminal activities: “To those who are lawless and are bent on wreaking havoc on our communities, we are right behind you. We are coming for you wherever you are. You cannot and will not win the war on crime. You will be defeated!”
