The government says it has invested in surveillance equipment to help police solve crime (Photo courtesy pro-vigil.com)
By Kisean Joseph
The government is promising that police will be given the necessary resources required to efficiently tackle crime.
Recent weeks have seen a spate of violent crime with a number of elderly people being targeted by gunmen who invade homes, assaulting and robbing them.
Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin updated his Cabinet colleagues this week with regards to the number of break-ins, gunpoint robberies, and other incidents that have brought harm to families, businesses and the social fabric of society.
Sir Steadroy has given assurances that the police force is making arrests, detaining suspects, and seeking earnestly to prevent the crimes before they happen.
During yesterday morning’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Information Minister Melford Nicholas was asked whether the police are well-equipped to deal with criminal elements during the upcoming Carnival celebrations.
Nicholas responded by saying that Antigua and Barbuda ranks at the lowest end of the scale of criminal activity across the region. However, he acknowledged that just one offence is one too many.
“Oftentimes people expect there to be a political response rather than a response from the constabulary,” he continued.
“My own observation, I would like to see that the police high command makes it their duty to address these matters before the public takes it out of political consideration. So, if I’m to be critical of the constabulary it is that they’re not doing enough to come to the public and allay the fears and concerns of the public. So that is my call. But beyond that, I think that all of the facilities that the law enforcement will need are being provided by the government,” he said.
Nicholas said the Attorney General had held robust discussions with the Cabinet requesting resources for the police. The minister said he recently held discussions with Sir Steadroy, who is the Minister of National Security, pertaining to particular IT requirements that the force may need in addition to surveillance equipment.
Minister Nicholas said that the government has invested in surveillance equipment to help police solve crime.
“There is significant surveillance in and around the island, particularly in St John’s, that should serve the police in terms of the ability to do interdiction for crimes when they happen,” he explained.
He said that while the police are tasked with solving criminal activity, the public’s assistance is also vital.
“I believe one of the best communities that have a community watch group would be in the Fitches Creek area. And I believe wherever that type of watch is kept by the community itself, it limits the capacity of persons who would want to commit crime to be able to move into these areas.
“I will indicate the prior support of the APUA if there are any community groups that would want to erect surveillance cameras in their streets and neighbourhoods and would need the support of the APUA to be able to locate them on the poles…yes, the APUA is willing and under my stewardship able to facilitate and support that type of event.
“And I think once we have more of these cameras and more of this surveillance going on, it may not prevent the perpetration of a crime … but it will certainly assist the law enforcement in being able to get the evidentiary information that they need to interdict these crimes,” Nicholas concluded.
Meanwhile, police have been asked to step up their physical presence across Antigua ahead of the 2024 Carnival celebrations.
Patrols are usually done in conjunction with the Defence Force to bring greater security and safety to the citizens, residents and visitors who descend upon St John’s for the festivities.
The police are also encouraging car owners not to leave any valuables on display in their parked vehicles, which risks attracting criminal elements.
