BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (DPP), Paulina Hendrickson has outlined some of the challenges that her office faces with regards to crime in the Federation, which she noted is at an all time high.
She made these remarks while addressing members of the legal fraternity at the opening of the new law term at the High Court in Basseterre on Tuesday (Sept. 18).
"Even though the new Evidence Act makes provisions for giving evidence by video links, so far, that has not been utilised in our Court as regards to criminal practice. As such, I repeat my call for the implementation of a well structured witness protection programme and other mechanisms provided for in the new Evidence Act which came into force in January of this year," she explained.
She made mention of the increase in acts of theft. She also spoke of the increased number of sexual offences against minors.
"Also troubling is the recent exponential increase in crimes such as shop lifting, robberies and larcenies by servants and that is being termed the 'bandits syndrome'. A disheartening trend is the continued prevalence of sexual offences, particularly those affecting minors."
The DPP advised the local media to take extra precaution when reporting on sexual cases as well as others.
"I take this opportunity to publicly implore the local press corps to be more responsible in their reporting of these and other types of matters before the Court... Privacy rights of accused persons as well as the alleged victims must be respected in accordance with the law and journalistic ethics," she said.
She went on to state that it is her hope that both prosecutors and defence councils can actively participate in case management, thus saving time and "precious resources". She gave an example of a case that was heard at the January 2012 Criminal Assizes which, she said took four weeks of judicial time.
"In our goal for efficiency, we remain in need of better tools, systems and technologies to improve the prosecution of crime and carry the Federation's criminal justice system to its peak potential," she said.
The sitting of the next Criminal Assizes is set to begin next Tuesday (Sept. 25).
