Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5575/-1/140/
|
POLICE CALL FOR AN END TO GANG VIOLENCE 2007 Was A Challenging Year
|
Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Illidge Richardson, made an impassionate plea on Tuesday, December 18, for an end to gang violence on the island. It is an untenable situation in which fighting frequently erupts at social functions between youngsters from different villages.
|
|
L-R: Sgt. Yearwood, Deputy Illidge Richardson and Insp. Sinclair
|
The latest occurrence was last weekend when, during a show at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, a number of persons were arrested to prevent breaches of the peace.
“It is all because of the social problems that are affecting our little island called Anguilla,” Mr. Richardson told the local media. “Persons from Blowing Point and The Valley are continuing to show their differences wherever they go and when they meet face to face.
“We know that there are differences between persons from one area of Anguilla and another area. We need to get rid of these little problems that are plaguing and disturbing our lives throughout Anguilla [where] we cannot travel from one end of the island to the other without being troubled by certain groups believing that one side of Anguilla belongs to them while the other side belongs to another group. Whatever differences the youths may have, it is time to settle them so that we can come to an end to the rivalry and fights at public events.
“I am calling on politicians, ministers of religion, lawyers, mothers, fathers and other leaders in the communities to come together with us so that we can have a bond and to understand that we are here to enjoy life in Anguilla. We are not to be disrupted by a few persons whose only intention of going to these events is to look for persons from one end of the island, with whom they may have differences, and during or at the end of the show to engage in fighting or throwing bottles to injure someone else.
“This practice cannot continue because there are so many people who go to these events to enjoy the entertainment and it is only a minority who continue to disrupt the quietness that we are enjoying in Anguilla. I think it should now come to an end.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police described 2007 as a very challenging year for the Force. “We were faced with a number of murders, robberies and a kidnapping and then we had a number of thefts, some of them solved and others unsolved,” he reported.
“The year is not at an end, but looking at crime for 2007, I would say that the resources of the Royal Anguilla Police Force were used to the extreme,” he stated. “We had many difficulties with regards to crime, some are still unsolved but we look forward to a brighter year 2008. It is difficult for me as Deputy Commissioner of Police to predict what will happen in 2008, but we will use all the resources we have on hand to see if we can get out there in the different communities…to engender more trust and confidence in the Force.
“Over the year we did a number of projects with regards to community policing, but we believe that for most of the time the community groups never really met. For 2008 we will design a programme whereby we will engage members of the community on a one to one basis, because most of the crime occurring in Anguilla is more of a community social problem. If people living in the community would get more involved in social activities there would be a likelihood that the crimes throughout Anguilla would be reduced significantly.”
Report on Current Crimes
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Sergeant Randolph Yearwood presented the police report covering the period December 12-18. Fourteen persons were arrested. Of that number, one person was arrested for burglary; two for possession of cannabis, six to prevent a breach of the peace; two for wounding; one for being armed with an offensive weapon and two for disorderly conduct. All of the arrested persons were male offenders.
Ten other crimes were reported during the same period. Six of those crimes were burglaries. They occurred as follows: one at North Side; three in Rey Hill; one in South Hill and the other in West End. Stolen were a DVD player, a stereo set, a drill, US$70 and a small quantity of jewellery.
There were three theft reports. The incidents were in Sandy Hill, East End and Stoney Ground. Stolen were US$2,800 in one instance, US$1,400 in another case and a vehicle registration plate. There was one report of criminal damage to a backhoe.
Gunshots at Stoney Ground
Detective Inspector Paul Sinclair reported that investigations were being made in a case in which shots were fired in the early hours of Monday morning at the Chinese restaurant in Stoney Ground. He said there was an immediate response by night patrol officers and members of the Drugs and Firearms Task Force.
A number of persons were taken to the Valley Police Station for questioning but were later released pending further inquiries. Up to Tuesday morning another five persons were at the police station as the taking of statements continued.
“We are looking at who the likely suspects are and once we have the full picture, we will be able to take some positive action,” Sinclair said. “The fact that shots have been fired is disturbing for people not only at Stoney Ground, but everybody in Anguilla…Hopefully by the next press conference I should be able to give you some further details in relation to what was yielded from the police investigations.”
Mr. Sinclair said that with the Christmas Season now on, there had been a built-up of police activity to handle any acts of crime or violence. “We need to be on high alert and ready to respond to any incident which may take place,” he added. “Hopefully because of the nature of our operations and the fact that we are highly visible, we feel that will deter any offences and that we will have a peaceful festive season.”
Deputy Commissioner Richardson also took the opportunity to extend season’s greetings to all residents and visitors in Anguilla on behalf of Commissioner Keithley Benjamin and all other ranks of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.