BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER more than a year-long hiatus, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) is preparing to host a series of town hall meetings aimed at interacting with the public and gleaning its views on crime and implementable measures to curb the escalation of it.
In 2008, the police force held its first-ever series of meeting in various villages around the island including of Newtown, St. Pauls, Sandy Point and St. Peters.
These meetings, which were welcomed by community members, provided opportunities for the public to speak candidly and communicate with the lawmen about their grievances and suggestions on transforming the police force into a more effective and efficient body.
In December 2008, the meetings ceased and, according to Commissioner of Police (COP) Austin Williams, it was to allow the police to review the complaints and suggestions forwarded by the public and to implement recommended measures to improve crime fighting.
COP Williams, without going into much detail, indicated that suggested measures have been implemented but noted that the security forces are still struggling with the issue of illegal firearms.
“We indicated we will do it for a year and see where it goes from there. Implement whatever measures, see if we get ideas that we picked up implemented and so on before we review and go again…We reviewed the year and I think it has been a great success, and also measures were implemented. The only troubling part we still have is the illegal firearms. We thought about - the areas down west (District B area) - getting a better system of policing there, but we have not been able to get that done yet. But we are still trying and hoping.”
Williams explained that the Force is working to deal with the alarming problem but suggested that measures may not be implemented until construction on the Dieppe Bay Police Station is completed.
Construction on that facility began in 2007 and was scheduled to conclude approximately one year later. Officials of the Ministry of National Security had indicated that the station would act as a multi-purpose facility to house contingents from the various law enforcement bodies.
The recommencement of the town hall meeting initiative, according to COP Williams, is scheduled to take place from next month’s end (May) but he did not give a specific date.
