Commissioner Williams promises no unturned stones in fight against crime
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief, SKNVibes.com
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| Commissioner Austin Williams addressing officers of the Force and invited guests at the Annual Officers’ Mess Dinner at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWLY-appointed Commissioner of Police Austin Williams pledged not to leave any stone unturned in the Force’s fight against crime in the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Commissioner was at the time delivering his welcome remarks at the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Mess Dinner hosted at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on Friday, February 15.
“As Commissioner, let me reassure you that my team of dedicated officers and I will leave no stones unturned in our efforts in bringing law breakers and criminals to justice. We are going to be vigorous and relentless in our approach in vehicular stop and searches, searching houses of suspected felons, the monitoring of our coastline and increased vigilance at our ports of entry,” he said.
Williams also appealed to the nation for patience with the security forces during times of operation, stressing he knew it could cause some degree of inconvenience especially when residents are late for work. “Please bear with us; our intention is not to inconvenience but to make our streets and neighbourhoods safer.”
Addressing the Force’s success in 2007 compared with the previous year’s, Williams said their collective efforts resulted in a major reduction in break-in offences and increased arrests for drug possession, tickets for traffic violations and the carrying of offensive weapons.
“Our collective efforts have also resulted in a significant increase in the number of illegal firearms removed from the streets…21 in 2007 as compared to the eight in 2006, and already seven in 2008.” ~~Adz:Right~~
Noting the recent formation of the Police Boys’ Clubs in Newtown, Cayon and on Nevis, Williams declared the High Command’s vision is to make the Federation a place where the police could engage citizens and key partners to provide the reassurance of high levels security and public safety.
“The moral of the Force is on the rise, public confidence is on the rise and so we are well on our way to achieving our goals,” he added.
He said the Force’s success was also dependent on the sterling contributions of his predecessor, Robert Jeffers, and former Deputy Commissioner Meredith Charles, who together had given 75 years yeomen service to the law enforcement body. “It is never easy for an organisation to lose that much experience all at once, but we have been assured by both officers that they will continue to give of themselves freely.”
He however noted that despite the successes there are some stark realities that the nation has to accept. “That is, the incidence of crime is on the increase the world over, whatever the stage of development and among all segments of society. The previously law abiding as well as the previously criminal societies are also affected.
Crime is no respecter of persons or nations. We are becoming increasingly concerned with the number of illegal firearms and the crimes that are committed with them.”
The Commissioner declared that the security forces understand the impact crime has on the social and economic stability of the Federation.
He therefore challenged all members of the Force to discharge their duty with diligence in order to ensure when the Federation’s statistics are read regionally and internationally it would reflect a country that falls in good standing of safety, security, peace and stability.
Commissioner Williams said the Police Force and other law enforcement agencies cannot fight crime alone. He noted that they need the eyes, ears and testimonies of the public to be able to better manage incidences of crime.
“We continue to appeal to the public to provide us with any information you may have regarding crime or criminal activity…We believe that our credibility is rooted in confidentiality, and so I will do all in my power in my capacity as Commissioner to tackle head on any suspected or reported breach of confidence.”
Williams expressed his happiness in reporting that public assistance has doubled in the recent past, noting it is an indication that public confidence in the police is again on the rise.
