Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5715/-1/140/
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Police Monitoring Gangs To Avoid Fighting
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The Task Force of the Royal Anguilla Police Service is engaged in a series of high visibility patrols throughout the island in relation to the various gangs, in an effort to prevent fighting among them.
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Deputy Commissioner Illidge Richardson and Inspector Paul Sinclair
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“I do have community intelligence, which I will share with you that one or two of the gangs intend squaring up to each other,” Inspector Paul Sinclair told reporters at the weekly police press briefing on Wednesday, March 5. “Although this has not been substantiated, there is good reason to believe that the community intelligence that we received is accurate; and because of that, disruption is a very valid tool for the police to use. Rather than wait for something to happen, I thought it necessary, in conjunction with Superintendent Proctor, who is in charge of operations, to put in place a plan to address the problem.
“Yes, the island is very quiet at the moment and has been for a number of weeks. We have increased our patrols and clearly, from what has been said, our presence is being felt. I am glad of that and although I cannot be specific in relation to which gangs, rest assured that I, personally, with Sergeant Best and the rest of the team, visited key members of these gangs.
“We made it quite clear to them that we have intelligence, which we believe to be accurate, that you are intending to square up and fight, with weapons, with other gangs. But please don’t do it. We are aware of your intentions and if you put the plan into execution, then rest assured that there will be an immediate response by the Royal Anguilla Police Force because we are aware of the situation.”
The British Inspector further warned the young people involved in gangs: “Whatever your unlawful intentions might be, please don’t do it because we will react to it and will apply the full weight of the law in Anguilla…”
Mr. Sinclair made the disclosure about the monitoring of gangs, when asked why the police had set up road blocks in an area of the island during this week and were engaged in stopping and searching vehicles. He said that so far nothing incriminating any of the motorists [such as weaponry] was found in the vehicles.
While carrying out the operation, the Task Force issued tickets to some persons driving with smooth or other defected tyres. He emphasised that such action was not part of the reason for stopping the vehicles, but that the team could not turn a blind eye to an obvious contravention of the Vehicle and Road Traffic Regulations.
The top police official said that when confronted about their alleged intentions, the gang members listened but made little comment, but the Task Force was confident they understood the message the team conveyed to them.
The patrols and road blocks will be continuing in an effort to stave off any gang violence on the island. While the Police Task Force is currently alone in this action, it is hoped that other organisations on the island would eventually be brought into a long-term and wider plan to address the problem.
The Inspector noted that there were many well-behaved young people in Anguilla and that gang violence among some youth was part of a problem in various other parts of the world which needed to be addressed. While it is not clear what the cause of gang violence is in Anguilla, he suggested that drugs may be part of the problem.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Illidge Richardson, expressed concern about the situation where youngsters from some parts of the island cannot travel to other villages fearing they become victims of gang violence. He repeated an earlier call for community groups, churches and other organisations to come together in an effort to remedy the situation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Richardson expressed relief that there has been a reduction in criminal activity on the island over the past weeks compared with the same period last year.
“We thank members of the public who assisted in preventing many things from getting out of hand,” he stated. “We look forward to your continuing support as we protect the people of Anguilla.” In recent times, the offences on the island have largely been a number of burglaries and thefts as well as an increasing number of road accidents, one of which claimed the life of Nell Rogers of Stoney Ground on February 23.
Commenting on that accident, Mr. Richardson said that a second motorist, a Spanish national who was the driver of a car, had also been charged. It is alleged that he had struck the jeep which then collided into the car causing the death of Nell Rogers, the front seat occupant, and injuries to the driver, Glenn Smith. The driver of the jeep, a Jamaican national, was arrested and charged shortly the tragic accident occurred.