Police to employ effective crime-fighting strategies…says COP
Installation of Close Circuit TV in Basseterre

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

[L-R] Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd, Commissioner Austin Williams and Assistant Commissioner Joseph Liburd

The press conference, first for the year, was held at the Police Training School with Commissioner of Police [COP] Austin Williams, Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd and Assistant Commissioner Joseph Liburd at the head table.

Commissioner Williams told reporters that the Force is aware of the significant increase in deviant behaviour and crime that threaten the Federation’s growth and development, and a number of strategies would be employed to combat this phenomenon.

“We will employ effective crime fighting strategies to combat any threat to our development and security,” he said. “Community policing is the philosophy of the Police Force. This means working with and through the community to achieve our shared goal of a safer community.”

He explained that priorities and crime fighting strategies would vary by neighborhood and would be built in collaboration with neighborhood residents, businesses and other law enforcement agencies. “We will work together to address neighborhood crime and disorder problems where all partners are accountable for taking action,” Williams added.

The COP declared that despite the efforts in preventing and detecting crime as well as prosecuting criminals with the help of the community, the Force is faced with a number of challenges.   ~~Adz:Right~~

He noted that the challenges included an increase in antisocial behavior and violent crimes among the nation’s youth; expanding communities which increase the residential areas for Police coverage; increased number of social and community activities, especially festivals which place more demands on the Police; increased number of international events [sports and conferences] that draw heavily on the Force’s resources and adversely impact on its regular policing programmes; increased tourism development [more cruise passengers, scenic tours and other eco-tourism activities]; the Federation’s porous borders; the absence of forensic capability and technology; and the increase of vehicles in the Federation.

Williams also noted that although the Force has been working assiduously with its limited resources to stem the flow of criminal activities, reported crime for the first half of this year has shown an increase of 11 percent when compared with the same period in 2007.

He however informed that there was a three percent decrease [112] in reported crimes against the person for the first six months of 2008 as against 116 during the same period last year, and 29 percent of all reported crimes in 2008 were solved.

Addressing the Force’s success for the year, the COP said 24 illegal firearms and over 1600 rounds of ammunition were seized in the first half of 2008 compared to 21 firearms and 315 rounds of ammunition for the whole of last year, while over 14,477 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 10 feet were destroyed, compared to 10,000 plants for the same period in 2007.

He also informed that 1,421 tickets were issued for traffic violations for the first half of 2008 compared to 1,318 for the same period in 2007, and 106 planned operations along with daily ongoing stop and search operations were so far conducted. “These operations,” he continued, “have yielded critical evidence which have led to successful prosecutions in drugs and firearm cases, as well as valuable intelligence.”

“We have also achieved a 38 percent detection rate in murders. It is important to note that this is five percent better than the internationally accepted standard. However, we are not satisfied with this and are working to improve our detection rate, but prevention of crime remains our main objective. It is important to note that over 95 percent of our criminal cases at the High Court ended in convictions,” Williams said.

The Commissioner said the Police achieved a 100 percent conviction rate in murder cases in the current assizes and thanked all those who made it possible - the community, Police investigators, witnesses and the prosecution teams at the Magistrate and High Courts.  ~~Adz:Left~~

He highlighted some of the initiatives that are responsible for the significant reduction and control of crime in the Federation. Among those initiatives are the establishment of the Police Boys Club in St. Kitts and Nevis with a membership of over 100 participants, and the 24-hour mobile patrol that was established in 2007.

Additional incentives include targeted and sustained operations in known hot spots; a Quick Response Unit operating in the area from West Farm to Lodge village via Sandy Point; and Townhall Meetings to improve community relations.

He also disclosed four new initiatives that would be implemented during the course of the year: “CCTV [Close Circuit Television] monitoring in Basseterre, use of marked Police vehicles in all communities to improve Police visibility, partnering with corporate sponsors in reaching out to sports clubs and teams, and liaising with schools, especially through the PTAs.”

The COP said Nevisians have seen the intensification of Police presence on the island since the commencement of Culturama activities it would continue after the festival. Also, he added, Police presence would increase on the Sea Bridge and other Ports of entry in Nevis and Basseterre, while calling on residents for their support and cooperation, especially passengers and ferry operators. 

Conclusively, the COP stressed the need for continued close collaboration among the Police Force, Defence Force and the Customs Department in the ongoing fight against crime. He also thanked the general public for their cooperation and willingness in information sharing; without which, he pointed out, the security forces would not have achieved the success it has.

The Police High Command had also provided answers to a number of questions asked by media operatives and willingly accepted suggestions and a proposal for an in camera meeting with members of the media and representatives from the Office of the Attorney General and the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.