Divisional Commander encourages officers to redouble efforts
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - As at the end of the third quarter of the year, the Nevis Division (District C) of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has recorded a comparative decrease in reported crime, coupled with an increase in its rate of detection.
SKNVibes contacted Divisional Commander, Superintendent Hilroy Brandy, Head of Division, following the conclusion of the quarter for an assessment of the division’s performance and during that interview, he gave an overview.
He said between January and September 2011, the Nevis Division had recorded 266 crimes, a decrease of 22 from 2010’s 288.
This registers a 7.63 percent decrease in reported crime with an accompanying 48.12 percent detection rate.
While reductions were recorded in breakings, firearm and ammunition possession and drug possession crimes, increases were recorded in robberies and larcenies.
During the period January – September 2009, 118 breakings were reported. That figure increased to 130 in 2010 and dropped in 2011 to 94.
Murders, over the same periods stood at three, four and four.
A 33.33 percent increase in robberies was recorded in 2011 over 2010 and a 40 percent increase in larcenies was recorded for the same period.
In 2009, 33 larcenies were recorded, 30 in 2010 and 42 in 2011. Three robberies were recorded in 2009, nine in 2010 and 12 this year.
Recorded instances of drug-related offences rose from 42 in 2009 to 62 in 2010 and fell to 59 in 2011. Firearm and ammunition possession stood at eight for the period in 2009, seven in 2010 and two in 2011.
Asked to what he attributes the division’s success, Superintendent Brandy explained that teamwork among officers and a working relationship with the community has been key.
“In early 2011, it was the goal of the Nevis Division to cut crime by 15 percent and increase detection rate to 50 percent because at the end of 2010, it was 46 percent. We went out with a plan and had lots of community meetings and we intensified our patrols and operations.
We visited churches and other community groups and individuals as a team and we sold our message to them. Although small in number, we able to team up with the different departments and stations and have frequent joint patrols and operations.
He said success could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of the men and women attached to the Nevis Division. For that, he extended words of gratitude to them and encouraged them to continue in that vein, “and to admonish them to let us continue to perform as a team. We must understand that there is no ‘I’ in team. So without the effort of all of us, it is not possible for us to be successful.”
With three month remaining in the year, the Superintendent indicated that the Nevis Division cannot afford to rest of its laurels but must redouble its efforts in “tackling this menace of crime that tries to take over our island and Federation as a whole.”
“We can no longer rely on the three Ss for development: sunshine, sand and sea. We have to add another two Ss; safety and security, in order that citizens and visitors alike can be free from crime and the fear of crime. Let us refrain from laying blame at the feet of individuals and individual organisations. Let us work together as a country to fight crime and disorder. We can make this Federation a safe paradise.
He reminded and reinforced that, “Our business is a business of service and we are serving the people. We are not serving ourselves.”
