Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3245/-1/140/
|
Police Commissioner: "Mix For 2006 To Remove Gun Slingers"
|
Anguilla’s Police Commissioner, Keithly Benjamin, has expressed gratitude to the Governor and the Government of Anguilla for supporting the establishment of a task force and its strengthening by deciding to recruit three recently-retired UK Police Officers. The task force will address the increase in the number of illegal firearms on the island among other criminal matters, but Mr. Benjamin has emphasised the need for public support to enable the body to function successfully.
|
|
Mr. Keithly Benjamin
|
Speaking in a radio broadcast, as part of activities for Police Week, he lamented that 2005 was a criminally active year and that even before 2006 opened properly, there were three shooting incidents, one of them fatal. “None of us knows who the next victim will be, but if we apply a mix for 2006, as our theme states, collectively we would …remove some of those gun-slinging bandits from our streets and community for a very long time,” he said.
“Our theme (Police and the Community the Right Mix for Police Week 2006), continues to appeal for a balanced approach to combating crime in our country,” the Commissioner continued. “Crime prevention and detection must involve the police and the community working together. I am aware that there continues to be concerns regarding confidentiality with respect to some of our officers. I am aware too that this purported mistrust has induced fear of reprisals in you as you attempt to protect yourselves and your families.”
He pointed out, however, that the defiance and arrogance of the perpetrators of crime was evidenced “by their confidence that the people of Anguilla will continue to remain silent as they reign terror and wreak havoc in our community.” He stated that when the police are harshly criticised by members of the public, when a case was dismissed for lack of evidence, they failed to realise that it was the best case the public allowed the police to put forward.
“If you fail to cooperate…your police force can only be as successful as you want it to be,” Mr. Benjamin emphasised. “The job of bringing those gunslingers to justice is made much more difficult than it should be. That is because they are being harboured, protected, aided or sheltered by some persons in the various communities that we police.
“Although we are accountable to you and responsible for taking the lead in combating crime, there is a moral obligation on everyone living in this society to assist us in what we do. Therefore, when we are unjustly criticised, or when a case is dismissed, it is not only a reflection on us but also on the society at large.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police outlined a number of new measures which the police and its task force will be embarking on as follows:
“Our Marine Department will, in seeking to minimise illegal activities, increase its patrols between the channel with St. Martin. We are presently improving our data collection capability, with assistance of Good Government Funds and the Government of Anguilla, whereby our intelligence-gathering capabilities will be financed.
‘We will be restructuring our local training to involve some of the many professionals on the island in an effort to raise our standards. Our Criminal Investigating Department continues to have on-the-job training so that [the officers] will be more equipped to serve you.
“Our Traffic Department will be more vigilant on our roads to address the growing problems. Similarly, there will be a comprehensive review of our Road Traffic Act. Complaints regarding the use of mobile phones by drivers when driving will be addressed, so too will be the use of seat belts.”
Despite the unfortunate incidents, which almost led to the cancellation or curtailment of Police Week, the Commissioner urged the public to support and enjoy the various social activities, while remaining alert to the crime situation.