BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the 10 percent increase in criminal activity experienced by the Federation in 2008, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) has devised a crime-reduction eight-point strategic plan to combat the situation.
Speaking at a recent press conference held by the RSCNPF, Commissioner of Police Austin Williams informed members of the press on the points that are part of the police force’s Strategic Plan which is yet to be released.
Last year, between the months of January to December, 2 048 crimes were recorded and, according to comparative statistics of 2003 to 2008, the figure represents a record high for the same period.
The first point in the plan, Williams explained, addresses the upsurge in crime and sets a realistic goal of reducing the incidence of minor and serious criminal offences by 10 percent during 2009.
Gang-related activity has seen considerable increases in 2008 and is one on which the police intend to focus during this year. The second point of the plan will be aimed at the prevention and reduction of gang-related violence.
Points three and four will address the reduction in supply and use of illicit firearms and the reduction in supply and use of illicit drugs by 40 percent.
Over the past years, the police force has taken steps to improve the relationship between its ranks and members of the public, as it is felt that a good working relationship between the two is paramount for the crime rate to take a downward trend.
To this end, the fifth point of the plan will seek to improve upon the existing community and police relations while establishing other bonds with the different communities.
The improvement of both investigative and prosecution “techniques” are listed as the sixth of the eight strategic points.
It is widely known that illegal firearms and other contraband enter the Federation through its porous coastal line, which is evidenced by the alarming increase in commission of gun-related offences. As a result, the police have committed to improving border control and security. This is the seventh point of the plan.
As a counter measure, quite recently the police force and affiliate government ministries and organisations have intensified their campaign to improve and maintain their relationships with international and regional law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Regional Security System (RSS).
In further pursuit of this goal, the police have committed to, as the eighth point of the plan states, “strengthen international and regional law enforcement cooperation”.
In speaking with SKNVibes, Commissioner Williams explained that the eight-point strategic plan and details would be included in the three-year Policing Plan which is yet to be made available to the public. He could not however pinpoint a time by which the document is to be released.
