Appendix 3: Law and Order. I 
want us to take one last look at the recently published National Audit Office Report titled, “Managing Risk in the Overseas Territories” [link here]. Then we shall return to the Environmental Charter and problems that have been indentified with how we in Anguilla are living up to our commitments. Appendix 3 of the NAO Report contains a part dealing with law and order. Most of it is not new. But, it is useful to see how we and our policing problems are perceived outside of Anguilla. It reads:
Anguilla is heavily dependent
on tourism. Real or perceived increases in crime can have negative effects on the tourist industry, which trades on Anguilla’s reputation as an upmarket, low crime destination. In late 2006 and 2007, a spate of property offences and robberies caused concern among the expatriate community and nationals. While a number of offences were attributed to one man, some 186 crimes were recorded by the Royal Anguillan Police Force in the first three months of 2007 and led to the Chief Minister convening an emergency meeting in April 2007, establishing a Multidisciplinary Committee on Crime and pledging to increase the number of police officers to 100. Some 20 new recruits are now in training but recruitment remains a major problem.
Anguilla’s Prison was built in 1996 with UK funding. However, it currently fails to meet minimum standards of security and segregation. A serious assault led to the death of a remand prisoner in 2006. The prison’s town centre location and its basic perimeter fence enables contraband goods to enter the site. There have been three break outs in the last two years, with the latest, in August 2006, leading to the creation of a Prison Task Force, attended by the Head of the Governor’s Office, to review the security situation. Conclusion: The main problem for the Anguillan Police and Prison service is the ongoing difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff.
In March 2006, a Drugs and Firearms Task Force was set up with joint funding by the Government of Anguilla and the Department’s Overseas Territories Programme Fund. The aim was to combat a rise in drugs-related crime, including several murders, which threatened Anguilla’s status as an upmarket tourist destination (from a very low base; in 2005, there were only 16 firearms offences). During its first six months of operation, the Task Force arrested over 40 people, discovered 230kg of cannabis and 22kg of cocaine. With UK support, Anguilla has introduced a number of measures to prevent firearms from being imported, including training of customs, immigration and police officers to recognise suspicious behaviour, and installing an X-ray machine to scan baggage entering Anguilla.
The UK has provided funds for a Prison Officer to be seconded from the Cayman Islands. They have been instrumental in training local prison staff, and raising standards. However, the inherent inadequacy of the prison infrastructure remains.
I had only been vaguely aware that there was a recruitment problem with the police and the prison. I found it gratifying to know that they had confiscated such a quantity of drugs. It was the mention of the X-ray machine at Blowing Point that made me smile. I know there is one that checks baggage leaving Anguilla. It is conspicuously installed in the Departure Lounge. But, I thought everyone knew that there is no X-ray machine functioning in the Arrivals Lounge. I do not recall seeing even a non-functioning one. The French authorities in St Martin have insisted that we check the shoppers and day trippers going to Marigot. They on their part do not perform any security check on passengers leaving St Martin for Anguilla. Nor do we appear to have any concern for what persons arriving from St Martin bring back to Anguilla!
want us to take one last look at the recently published National Audit Office Report titled, “Managing Risk in the Overseas Territories” [link here]. Then we shall return to the Environmental Charter and problems that have been indentified with how we in 
on tourism. Real or perceived increases in crime can have negative effects on the tourist industry, which trades on 
Guns are not being brought in by people carrying luggage from St. Martin to Blowing Point or the airport, but by people in fishing boats using various anchorages and beaches. What are the police and customs doing about that and how many people have been arrested at such locations for smuggling?
ReplyDeleteWhen there is no effective enforcement, our laws become a joke.
When arrests are made and people are convicted but no one knows about it, our laws have no deterrent effect.
Since the Chief Minister convened an emergency meeting in April 2007 and established a Multidisciplinary Committee on Crime, has it met, has it done anything, has it issued any reports or is all this a State Secret?
ReplyDeleteI thought this Multidisciplinary Committee was investigating the CAUSES of crime, not crime itself. What has the Committee determined to be the causes of crime in Anguilla, or is this yet another State Secret? What is our Government doing to address these causes, or is this yet another State Secret? Why do we need a Public Relations Officer in the CM's office if everything they do is a State Secret?
ReplyDeleteSir John Bourn, the Government's spending watchdog, has announced his retirement in the wake of allegations over his lavish taxpayer funded globe-trotting and meals at top London restaurants.
ReplyDeleteIn the past three years, Sir John, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO), who is in charge of ensuring public money is spent properly, raked up £365,000 in travel expenses and £27,000 in restaurant bills.
He was due to appear next week before MPs, who are drawing up plans for improving the "governance" of the NAO following the scandal.
At the moment, the auditor general is one of the few officials who cannot be sacked by the Government and can only be dismissed after votes in both houses of Parliament.
His six-figure expenses bill is particularly embarrassing for the Government, as Sir John was recruited in 2006 to a new position to police the ministerial code of conduct, which sets out standards of behaviour for ministers.
In an unexpected announcement, Sir John, 73, said he would retire in January after 20 years at the helm of the NAO.
He will be replaced by his deputy Tim Burr.
. . .
For the full article see,
The Daily Telegraph
I honestly believe the police needs to invetsigate itself for some of these crimes going on in Anguilla especially those involving robbery. We never use to have so many crimes until we recruit more foreign cops than Anguillian. All this criminal activity is NOT committed by Anguillian only. It is very easy for some of them to bring in their friends. We have no clue who we have in this island. Where is Kittiican born OTTO?
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against foreign cops but I believe certain jobs in a country must be for citizens otherwise we are doom. It's a matter of national security. And if ANguillians don't want to do the work then serving in the police force for one year should be mandatory for all.
If someone reports criminal activity, why is it the cops rather wait until it runs into overtime before they investigate it. I think some of these criminals have inside info on how to rob AXA financial institutions.
Can the RAPF please publish their monthly overtime hours and cost to the tax payers of Anguilla please?
Mr. Mitchell, I'm wondering if you could shed some statistical data on crime in Anguilla compared to other islands, or US cities? Many writers of travel forums are talking about the crime in Anguilla, and or labeling certain parts of the island more dangerous than others. While all crime is terrible and all efforts should be made to stop it, I wonder what Anguilla looks like compared to other destinations? Some reports are vague, do not compare on same levels and sometimes make no sense. Any light you could shed for those of us concerned would help. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThere are many interesting comments on the blog. The overtime for enforcements officers are very high, without control. why is it that officers be it customs police immigraton and prison be given just a percentage of their salary. Mr Benjamin i believe scrutinize his officers which is what good managers do. officers omce being paid overtime drags in more than some people salary,tell me how can any manager justify this outrageous behavior. give them all a flat percentage on their salary. then their work would not begin after four pm. and all day they do their oiwn things. runing here and their runnign pciking up friends and going to shop and bank for their personal interest. managers you are responsible for goovernment coffers.
ReplyDeleteI am in the health business and while i do not agree with the overtime that some people get,as mentioned by the previus writer remember some jobs demand that you remain on the job or go to work. I must be compensated if i have to work but in other cases i agree that overtime should be paid base on percentage for some people and jobs such as customs immigration securitu must go to work to open the ports they should be paid their overtime.Everything else should be based on percentage. I know of stories where people plan to purchase stuff from unworked overtime and they keep their finaces runnign on unwoked overtime. People should watch this.
ReplyDeleteTake heed of what happened to Sir John Bourn.
ReplyDeleteRecently I spent quite a lot of time searching for comparative crime statistics on the internet. I found nothing useful. We know that the Caribbean has the worst crime rate in the world, if you don't count killing Iraqis as a crime. But these regional figures lump us with Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana, so they don't really tell us anything about Anguilla.
ReplyDeleteI found figures from five years ago when Anguilla was perhaps the safest place in the Caribbean. I found figures for independent Caribbean countries that omit any mention of Overseas Territories.
This new report tells us a lot about the Caribbean but almost nothing about Anguilla:
Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends,Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean, March 2007 - A Joint Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Latin America and the Caribbean Region of the World Bank
http://tinyurl.com/29jtes
I conclude that all useful information has been suppressed. Suppression creates a lot of rumours, but no headlines that embarrass anyone or harm our tourism sector.
We have a statistical officer who we are paying big money to because the Anguillians who were in the position could not do the job. THe data hasn't been updated since this new post was approved. Take a look at the statistics website and tell me if these people worth their salary.
ReplyDeleteI have to only conclude that the politicians are manipulating the system as to what type of data they want public. Without social statistical data on a quartely basis, i wonder how anyone can pick up trends.
They can tell us how many tourists coming every month, and how many petty crimes on a weekly basis but can't make this available online for the public to view.
Health Data
Crime data
Economic data
etc
We want to know!
"We" may want to know, but until we have a Freedom of Information Act they can do what they darn please and we live in the dark.
ReplyDeleteWe were moving in the proper direction with all this -- which was part of the constitutional review process -- until Dame Bernice brought everything to a halt with her grandstanding about "full internal self-government" which she knows full well is a constitutional impossibility.
A few months ago Victor said he thought we'd have a new constitution before the next election. Last wee the CM said he didn't think it would happen that soon.
Until then, we live in the dark.
I have been looking at some crime figures from some other islands in the carribean region and I must state that Anguilla is not in a bad position as compared to them.These islands are far most violent and crime infested, a far more dangerous palce to visit.However,it is not merely the fact that Anguilla's crime rate has spiked,it is that this is a trend unheard of before.We are rapidly loosing our family type oriented community.Our normally peaceful,laid back society has been jolted into reality that seems to mystifyue all.We have to face the obvious fact that our society is undergoing a metamorphosis and we are all a part of is.What is striking is that we seems to be more worried about lesser events and less concerned about our plight.If we fail to recognised the direction our country is heading then we are surely doomed.We can point fingers and cast blame on whomever we choose but it wil not eliminate our problems or our present dilema.Where is our patriotism,do why dont we take action to stop this.We address this blog with our criticisms and accusations but sorely short on solutions.Why do we whine about our situation but still are reluctant to render aid ?
ReplyDeleteI muust say then we are also part and parcel of the problem.No society can survive for long if its citizens are nonchalant and refuse to do their part for their country's sake.When we are privy of a crime and turn a blind eye to it and it's perpetrators we are condoning that crime and those criminals.Are we any less responsible for that crime?Police can only be as effective as the community allows them to be.The people are the data base of the police system ,everyone has a duty togive some form of input.When we are called on by the law enforcement communityto assist why do we hesitate,why do we not turn that sorry rotten mindless criminal in?I will say this if any memember of my family was involved in crime I would gladly turn them in,why can you all do the same.Stop blaming other if you yourself can be an upright citizen and do the honorable thing.We are all in this together and if crime bring Anguilla down we all will go down with her.It time we stop all this showboating and pretense and step up to the plate ,turn those lousy bastards in for they are our scum that needs to be behind bars,even if it is your homeboy or family.What can he give to you if the tourist stop coming /I'll tell you he will turn on you and rob or kill you because he have to have money to buy his drugs.
Solutions are what is needed not just empty dialogue which serve only one purpose and that is for the poster to air their views or contempt at others.
If they are so disillusioned then its time they become involved in the system and make the changes they so dearly seek.However ,as cowards always do ,they prefer to sit back in the comfort of their living room or wherever they are and type out some outrageous intelligent mombojumbo and lash out at everyone.Who really cares about their degrees and education if they only spout discord ,contention and futlie critisism about the very place they claim they love so much.I'll say they are a sorry bunch of educated idiots and not fit to be called Anguillian.
I agree with the poster but if we know where the weapons are coming from why isnt the people more helpful in turning in these criminals?Why isnt our youths so turned off by the opportunity of serving their country?We leaving this important and vital role to the outsiders or foriegners to tackle yet we cry foul because these men embark on this honorable profession with zeal and since they apprehend our brothers we cast judgement and label them crooked.Shame on you all, for I have worked with some of these fine brave men who place their own lives on the line for you when our own country men wont and thats the thanks they get?These men gave up their family and friends to embrace our island and peopleand work to help better the place we call home-Anguilla,yet we are so hypocritcal and stoop to the level of blaming them for the misfit in our midst, who we, by the way condone their behaviour.
ReplyDeleteIt the time to stop all this mess and work together for change.
14th November 2007
ReplyDeleteRUDE AND INTOLERANT-POLIICE COMPLAINTS ON THE RISE
Complaints against the police have risen by 10 percent with nearly half of all complaints concerning neglect of duty and incivility according to figures released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A total of 28,998 complaints cases were recorded during the year, an increase of 2,730 on the previous year.
This is a report from England and how the people there are encouraged to complain if they have a problem with the police.
IF people in ANGUILLA had a right and an opportunity to complain against bad behaviour by the police, we would complain about bad behaviour of others also -including dangerous criminals, petty crooks , politicians and auditors.
Anguilla is a low crime island. In the early 1980s we could boast of being able to leave our cars and our homes unlocked, day or night.
ReplyDeleteIn the not too distant past the jail was empty and that too was a bragging point for Anguillians at home and abroard. 'Our jails are empty, we are a crime free society'.
In the last couple of years there has been gun violence, among some of the youth, targeted at each other which has resulted in the deaths of at least two young men and one young woman and the wounding of several others.
A spate of robberies earlier this year were thought to be the work of one young man. Persons robbed described him as being well spoken and very polite.
For anyone visiting Anguilla commonsense precautions such as locking your parked car and locking your doors at night should be sufficient to prevent those crimes of opportunity.
There are severe penalties for criminal behaviour . In a recent case in October of this year, a young man was sentences to 25 years in prison on being found guilty by a jury for attempted murder. He had shot at and wounded another young man. He was also sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for illegal possesstion of a firearm and ammunition.
Earlier this week Chief Minister the Honourble Osbourne Fleming called upon all Anguillians and residents to stand firm against crime in the island.
The Chief Minister made mention of the recent rally against violence which highlighted various factors towards an ffective strategy for reducing or eliminating gun violence and gun crimes. These factors includes addressing the root causes of violence and gangs, control over guns and violence, enforcement of existing laws , the need for laws and the effective implementation of border controls to prevent the importation of illegal guns.
The minstry of Social Development is working to promote crime prevention and assist youths at risk.
Sadly, when Anguillian cops are caught doing wrong, they resign and go into the private sector as security guards.
ReplyDeleteAnguilla is the only place in the world where a police officer has never been caught doing wrong. We should be awarded a prize for this and tell other police force how to be so honest and above repute.
I love cops, but I hate when a few bad apples are allowed to ruin our force.
We all know who these cops are who are unethiical. Until we can discipline the cops, my job of convincing the public to turn in the crooks who are doing the samething will be more difficult.
Caribbean cops should be place on 3 year contracts. WHen a cop is rumoured to be tipping off drug dealers the solution is not to transfer them to traffic.
When a cop is alledge to be engaged in fraud, the solution is not have them resign and go work hotel secuirty.
When a cop is alledge to rape a underage girl, the solution is not to have them leave the island.
When a magistrate is alledge of domestic abuse, the solution is not to have them sneak off the island and pretend we don't know where they are at.
When the Chief is alledge to have tip off a minister about a British drug bust, that person should never be Chief.
Should I go On?
First clean up those in authority and then the crooks will understand the laws apply to everybody.
The following message was posted on this blog in June, by an anonymous person whose words have the ring of authority. I am posting it again, and ask, if the Governor will not help and the politicians can't interfere with the police and there is no independent complaints board to go to, who will help us?
ReplyDelete"Kindly stop calling on the Governor to help. He has a constitutional duty to be responsible for the police force. That means only that no politician can order the police around. Only he can order the police around. But he has made it clear on more than one occasion that he has no intention of interfering in local policing issues. He does not claim to be an expert in police tactics and strategy. He has confidence in the police force. He will leave it to them to do what they have been trained to do until someone comes up with dramatic and convincing evidence why he should stop having confidence in them. He is far from that situation today."
In a speech to the Caribbean Association of Law Librarians three years ago, Justice Mitchell spoke about alleged police corruption throughout the Eastern Caribbean. He then stated:
ReplyDelete"The concern is that unless the honest elements within our governments and police forces show a stronger commitment to rooting out such corruption as does exist, our leaders will ultimately fail in their noble dreams, and our countries risk descending into a Haiti-like condition. If there is any substance to this widely held belief about the extent of corruption, then the best intention of our leaders to improve the economic and social status of our people through the opportunities provided by the CSME risks being defeated. If this scourge is as widespread and endemic as one hears, then we as a people have to find the courage to speak out in protest, otherwise all of our hopes and aspirations for the improvement of the lives of our children and grandchildren are likely to be doomed to failure."
The last poster has made some valid points concerning the need for just discipline, however, all allegation must first be sustantiated and proven before anyone can be prosecuted. If Police or the Police chief are tipping off targets we must have evidence of their wrong doing to procede. Absent of that evidence it is mere rumour and allegations. The only recourse for the Police if they cannot corroborate the story is to remove the officers involved to a different line of work or of course allow them to resign since they have smeared or tarnished the police image. There is nothing wrong in asking for these officers resignation, and it is not a cover up as the public might see it. I have worked in the in the USA and there is an internal affairs unit that conducts investigation of misconduct by the police. This unit investigated all complaints, interviewing all parties involved. If the allegations are not proven these officers can still be suspended or terminated for conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Perhaps ,this is what is needed here in Anguilla. A code of conduct and rules and regulations that maintain the integrity of the Police. I would gladly pass on any information and give any assistance to further this process so that stricter standards can be implemented to enable, rekindle the public’s faith and trust in Police. Change is needed but we must first be receptive to the process or instruments that facilitates that chnge.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the other poster who fantasises about the 80's when we used to leave our property unsecured, well ,nothing lasts forever. Times have change and we cannot afford to remain innocent and naive about the trends. As our country develops and our community make up change so does the incident of crime. It is a factor that is constant in every deveoping country. Our values, cultural habits and allegences tend to shift or change. We become less personal and more introverted or impersonal. The thing we cared about slowly become obsolete. Diversity breeds a cold and impersonal atmosphere that is conducive for the upturn of crime statistics. Look around and you will see it is quite evident all over the world. Criminals flourish in this type of environment because they operate on the rule of thumb that if you don’t care or have an association with your neighbour, then you won’t report their criminal activities to the Police. Once this is started it is very difficult to get back under control as the criminals then become more empowered and daring. They then instill fear into the community and victims creating a vicious cycle. Active participation on the part is what is needed to curb this vicious trend. Report these criminals and even the police if they are crooked show them that you have a voice and a will to stand up and do what’s right for the protection and preservation of our country and its values. Stand up and be counted. Utilize the media and these blogs to spread your message that we will retake our pride possession – Anguilla - from these crooks.
Anguilla forever, tranquility wrapped in blue.
If we are the descendants of revolutionaries then where is our fighting spirit, where is our will to fight for what our fathers left us? Come everybody get involved in this struggle we cannot afford to loose this war. Our very survival is at stake.
Anguilla forever, Anguilla my home.
The above poster talks as I would to a child: "all allegation must first be sustantiated and proven before anyone can be prosecuted." It is condescending and I don't appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteRight now, if I need to file a complaint against a police officer I must complain to the police about their own corruption. This is ridiculous and unacceptable.
If the police want my cooperation in solving crime they must first gain my confidence. They have failed to do that. When we have an independent police complaints commission that can't be hired, fired or disciplined by the Commissioner of Police or some elected politician, let me know.
If the chief of polic or his officers,and a minister of gov't are involved in any crime of complicity then why are they still employed and working for us? Come on this is ludicrous and a testament to our approval or condonement of this corrupt behaviour. It is really baffling to hear all these allegations emminating from my poeple.what is even more shocking is that it is still allowde to continue. Why do we oly complain and whine or be the first to enter a blog to air this disgraceful behaviour? Do we realise that it also reflect our maturity and our thinking? It shows that we are allowing and enabling corruption so of course most people will believe that Anguilla is ripe for the picking. While it is true that thses blogs are useful,in that they permit us to hear the view and opinions of others ,the down side is that it makes us seems as if we exsist in a chaotic state,continually complaining and spouting discord.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the image we want to project to the rest of the world, instead we want to show solidarity and unity. We must come togehter and rid our country of these undesirables who are bent on leadiin us down the path of destruction.
Without change and a new fresher vision and leaders who are willing and courageous enough to tackle that task, I must say that our future looks gloomy at best.
The above poster declares that "This is not the image we want to project to the rest of the world, instead we want to show solidarity and unity."
ReplyDeleteIt is platitudes, denial and false images that have allowed us to sink to the level we find ourselves. This stupidness is the problem, not the solution.
It's the samething the people of Zimbawe use to say. Lets support Mugabe he is black and Zimbawean. He love Zimbawe more than any foreigner. SO Mugabe could do no wrong and he rule for decades. Anyone who oppose him, were
ReplyDeletedegenerate and white sympathizer.
Today, we see what happpens to a nation when people allow nonsense and corruption to flourish. I always admire my Anguillian folks because they are very aware about what's going in the country. Unfortunately, some have failed to embrace the changing medium we have at our disposal to voice our opinions. The internet has level the playing field and if you are not accountable to the people, then we will continue to talk about it, until something is done.
For all those who continue to live in a bubble and don't know how to investigate allegations, in time those same allegations may be captured on audio and video and broadcast for the entire world to see. We better take public complaints seriously.
A nation that stiffles criticism however, harsh is embracing a police state.
Thank God for internet.
If the police want my cooperation in solving crime they must first gain my confidence
ReplyDeleteThis the type of attitudes that I am refering to. This poster needs to realise that failure to assist in erradicating corruption and corrupt behaviour is exactly why we are in this dilema.
To this poster, it is not my intention to sound or be condescending, however, sometime the truth has to be told frankly and when it hit home it usually has or leaves a nasty taste in our mouth.
Why complain to the Police? If we have such a serious situation, then legal prosecution is the remedy. Complaints of corruption that are based on facts are crime that can be handled through the legal system, The Attorney General's office should be encouraged to prosecute them.
If our complaints are forwarded up to the AG office then we have done our jobs. Why keep corrupt individuals in office if they are braking the law? Put them in jail where they belong whether they are Police or civilians. My heart goes out to my countrymen but as I said earlier we have tools at our disposal to expose them and their dirty deeds. The internet is a useful medium and we should utilize its full potential to aid in bagging these bad apples amongst us. My concern for my country far exceeds my desire to sugarcoat anything or feel guilty or remorsful for saying what needs to be done. If I have offended anyone with my harshness, for that I will extend an apology because it is not my intention to do that. I merely was trying to highlight some of the problems being aired and attempting to illict some dialogue that provides solutions instead of some empty discussions. Solutions are what is needed and we have to find a means to reach them. I do in fact welcome the information coming on the blog and it is good that we all are concerned to be able to talk about it, but are we that riled up to effect the changes we speak of? What else needs to happen before our people are moved into action. We cannot wait like we did in the Bradshaw day we have to act now.
It is platitudes, denial and false images that have allowed us to sink to the level we find ourselves. This stupidness is the problem, not the solution.
ReplyDeleteWhat hogwash, has this poster gone mad? We have sunk to this level because of inactivity and turning a blind eye and deaf ear to our problems. We have a functioning democratic system where we elect our officials but yet we fail to make the changes necessary. Why do we continually re-elect them if they are so corrupt, why not make a move to have them removed from office, including the Police chief and his band of crooked cops?
THE ROYAL ANGUILLA POLICE FORCE
ReplyDeleteThe Royal Anguilla Police force is a fine band of men and women doing a difficult job. We are proud of our police force. An occasional bad apple or two should not make us bad-mouth the entire force.
All the rambling about corrupt politicians and corrupt police is just so much undiluted nonesense.
Solving crime and finding criminals is not as easy as we see in a one-hour movie. In ENGLAND with the best trained policemen in the world, statistics show that there are over five million crimes committed each year and only just over a million are solved.
Even a 3 year old child know that it is the Governor and the Governor only , who has full responsibility for the police.
The latest police report showed that over the last week there were two house buglaries in which nothing was taken and the Eldorado Shopping Mall was broken into and some jewelry stolen.
We do not need a crime specialist to guess that if it is the same person, it is most likely a younster looking for jewelry.
People in Anguilla need to stop moaning about crime and how the government and police are to blame. The truth is that the route cause of crime lie in bad parenting, bad education,and hopelessness.
What we need in Anguilla, with our low crime rate, is less talk and more action and we can 'faught crime a lick'. Here is what we must do to eliminate crime or lessen the incidents of crime to almost zero:
1. Give the police vehicles so that they can respond quickly.
2. Bring back the old-time special constables, with one or two in every village, who are from that village.
3. Assign a policeman with a good personality as the neighbourhood officer.
4. Promote Neighbourhood Watches-the concept of neighbourhood policing.
5. Community Councils-to help identify families and children at risk and to help them in the community circle. Also to allow all to participate in community life and perhaps become good community leaders.
6. Community centers , sports and recreation facilites.
7. A living wage, so that a mother does not have to work 3 jobs just to put food on the table,amd can spend time with the children .
8. A proper education syustem in which children learn to read by
age 7.
9. The rule of law i.e what apply to one should apply to all, no favouritism and special treatment before the law.
10. Create a fair and just society in which people have equal opportunity.
I don't need some anonymous poster, or anyone else, announcing on my behalf that "We are proud of our police force."
ReplyDeleteSpeaking just for myself, anyone who wants my trust will need to earn it, not announce it or demand it.
Police cars? Government gave them police cars, one of their men tried, quite unsuccessfully, to drive it into and through the Court House, and the results of the ensuing investigation are a State Secret.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the deceased officer and the injured one but don't come whining to the people about needing more cars if you refuse to account for the ones the people give you.
Police Cars? When the Commissioner met with Justice Mitchell a few months ago he was asked specifically what support, tools or equipment he needed that Government wasn't providing. "Nothing!" he replied - Government has provided everything he's asked for.
ReplyDeleteNow he needs police cars? Has he destroyed the ones he had? Didn't he bother to get insurance on them, like the rest of us are required to do? Was he lying then or is he lying now?
Our Police officers need to do Bicycle patrols not ride around in cars going nowhere driving at break neck speed to kill our people.
ReplyDeleteI am appealing to the business community to donate a fleet of 30 bicycles so our cops can get off their fat butts and work the community beats.
They can't complain about salaries. The starting salary for a constable is about $6,000EC plus overtime. THe RAPF needs to invest in technology and training of more experience officers. This crap of 4 years as a constable and then promoted to corporal and seargent nonsense needs to stop. Get them off island into associate or degree programs to do police science, computer technology and criminology ect.
Find out what your officer career interests are in the Force and work to have them advance themself. Limit officers from having 2 and 3 jobs private jobs.
And finally, hire a lawyer to be assign the to the force as public prosecutor. Laywers in ANguilla all seem to be defense attorneys defending criminals because they are afraid to work for the public.
The AG sits and wait for the public to bring an issue to his office instead of being the CHief public advocate when it comes to law.
Wow! is all I can say to that poster with his wish list. Is he trying to create Utopia?
ReplyDeleteSociety will never be crime free and for a news flash. Hello, Anguilla was never crime free. I live and worked here as a Police and even though it was not a bad as it is now we always had crime and criminals among us.
The Police, try as they might, will never stop crime even though they can effectively control its escalation. The legal system has to work hand in hand with the police to apply the punishment needed when these deviants are apprehended. The Police is the barrier or defense line between us and them so lets get our priorities right. We have to refrain from bashing and putting them down and start giving them our support. Perhaps when we realise this we will begin to see the good that these young men are doing. Yes, there might be some rogues among their ranks but that is present in every institution. WE have to encourage and convince the upright officers to turn against them and put them out and in jail where they belong. I know that the cost of gas might be a prohibiting factor in acquiring more vehicle but have we considered purchasing some motorcycles to do the patrolling? They are more fuel efficient than a car and would perhaps serve the purpose of providing the extra patrols needed.
The poster suggests that we need to have our kids reading by age 7. Lord have mercy on us if that is when our kids learn to read. The problem is more solved if people such as that poster would take time to teach his kids to read and rely less on the education system. Children learn more from mimicking their parents and adults around them. True our system might need upgrading but it is not entirely to blame if our children cannot read. When I was a kid back in the 60's and 70's we read a great deal because we didnt have the luxury of TV,and Video games etc. Our parents were involved with our work and progress, but today instead they prefer to allow the TV amd Internet to educate our kids. No wonder we are failing in our push to get ahead. I am not advocating the disbandment of TV or Internet. On the contrary, I am just saying that other factors are in play here that is causing our children to lag behind, not our education system alone.
Our children are quick to adopt the style and behaviour of those hooligans and gangsters we see glamorised on TV and we just sit back and acceptingly allow them to do whatever they darn well please. Where are the church goers? We were a community of god fearing pricipled people but our standards and principles are gone to the dogs. Well, most of us are anyway. Without good morals and a conscience we are doomed to a island infested with crime and criminals because we would have lost the respect for ourselves and others and the property. These things are not inherited but are learned and practiced and are responsible for creating a society that is strong and proud and just. This was Anguilla of yesteryear, the one the world had to stop and look at and realise that we were different and unique, but now ?