By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
IN DIRECT response to a spate of murder and violent crimes in the capital, the Royal Bahamas Police Force launched an island wide anti-crime operation over the weekend aimed at “arresting prolific offenders and preventing serious incidents before they happen”, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel.
Speaking with The Tribune, ACP Bethel said while the special operation, which has now been intensified, saw police officers “fan out” across New Providence, officers also concentrated on certain areas “known to be crime hot spots”.
Those areas include Yellow Elder Gardens, Fox Hill, East Street and its side corners, Bain and Grants Town, Nassau Village and certain portions of Carmichael Road.
Five persons were killed last week, including an off duty police officer who was shot in the head at point blank range Thursday night as he sat in a car with a female friend. Last Friday, a man was killed when he was shot around 8pm in the Nassau Village area.
Up to press time the country’s murder count stood at 114, just five shy of the 119 murders police said they recorded in 2013.
During the weekend operation, police seized three guns and arrested 60 people for various crimes, including, murder, rape, assault, possession of firearms and drugs. Additionally police ticketed 234 persons for traffic violations and closed a number of clubs for violating the terms of their business licenses.
ACP Bethel said these operations will continue into 2015.
He said while police are concerned about the murder rate, they are equally concerned about the number of armed robberies and shootings in the capital.
“This is going to be a continuous operation that will run with this intensity until after the New Year. We want to reduce the amount of crime on our streets. While we have been doing a great job arresting persons for serious offences and taking them before the courts we need to detect the crimes before they happen,” he said.
“We need to stop these crimes from happening so we have intensified our efforts to prevent crime. We need to allay the fears of the Bahamian people who are concerned about the armed robberies, the number of stolen vehicles, the shootings and the murders. We will remain on the streets and look at all angles of security, especially during this Christmas season.
“The whole idea is to prevent crime by going after persons we know are prolific offenders, hardcore criminals and traffic violators who have no regard for safety. We will send a clear message that the police will be here, we will be on the streets – we will reduce crime.
“We are concerned about every shooting that happens, a lot of them did not result in death, but every shooting where a Bahamian is harmed we are concerned,” he added. “We must recover guns, we need to take guns out of the hands of the criminals. We cannot just arrest people and take them to court; we need to arrest them before they commit these crimes. So we are looking at the periods when serious crimes are committed and saturating the streets with officers at those times, late evening and early mornings. Those times when persons are getting off from work, or will be shopping during the Christmas season, we will put more resources into those times.”
ACP Bethel said he hopes the public is “angry enough” to assist police by turning in known criminals.
“So far the operation has been a success and we took a number of persons off the streets, however, we want the Bahamian people to partner with us,” he said.
“The public should be angry and they should respond to that anger by committing themselves to partner with the police. Give us information on the people they know have guns. Once they do that we will go after anyone we have information on. Be a part of our campaign to reduce the violence, help us. Once that is done you will see less and less crime, we need the help of the public. We need you to be fed up enough to assist us in making the Bahamas a safe place for everyone.”
Mr Bethel said tips can be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
Comments
Sickened 9 years, 4 months ago
Sooner of later we are getting to get a lot of comments from ignorant parents saying that their loving and nice 18-25 year old sons are always being stopped by police when driving around with their music blaring and super dark tint. To those parents and human rights extremists I say put a sock in it... we don't want to hear it. I for one have no problem with police profiling our ratty looking youth and pulling them over and searching their vehicle and their person. I would much rather our youth know and witness the authority of our police officers than to have them think that they can dress and act the way that many of them do with no consequences. I have regular tint on my car windows and I ALWAYS put the windows down if approaching a road block so that the officers can clearly see me and my occupants. I feel sorry for those officers out there at road blocks. Imagine their fear every time a tinted vehicle pulls up, wondering if the occupants have guns and are getting ready to shoot them and speed off.
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
I agree! Don't want to hear anyone crying about their good son or daughter. Everyone is well aware of crime and the steps necessary to eradicate this cancer to our society. If you're out there acting the fool I can not sympathize. It's a war-zone that has been created because of the lackadaisical attitudes we take in bringing up our children and our lack of positive contribution to our society and country.
"RELEASE THE KRACKEN!"
countryfirst 9 years, 4 months ago
I praise this effort but let us sustain it this crime problem needs a constant consistent effort get the politicians out of the way and let the police do their jobs and you magistrates and judges stop letting us down by allowing these thugs back on the streets.
asiseeit 9 years, 4 months ago
The police do their job, our politicians and the court system are the problem. The politicians actually are criminal themselves!
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
................. About bloody time the police got off their ass's and took back the streets! ..........
Criminals being allowed to travel throughout the capital armed to the teeth with impunity is simply ludicrous.
Defense force officers need to be brought in as well to help with a SUSTAINED EFFORT with statistically placed road blocks to stem the criminal elements ability to move around with vehicles loaded with illegal weapons.
Bethel's comments suggests road blocks will only be in place until the New Year. This is unacceptable.
Stapedius 9 years, 4 months ago
Road blocks and operations appear to be the only tools they have. Crime is out of control and the criminal justice system is partially to blame. These repeat offenders are being allowed every opportunity to rob and kill. No bail and hard labour sentences need to be implemented. They should be made to lift bricks, sand and steel building sea walls in this country til they come to their senses. This thing of letting them out to roam the streets and checking in to the police station 2 days a week is nonsense. The labour in prison would be so miserable that they would avoid it at all cost. We are playing around with the death penalty so lets do something that keeps them alive but makes life miserable for them. At the same time I would have every dock and seawall in this country built by the intense labour of prisoners. Fox Hill is overloaded with prisoners who sit around and do nothing waiting for family to bring food. Simple solution. When you commit a crime consider yourself signing a contract to work for free for the Bahamian people for however long you're sentenced. The Privy Council is holding us up with capital punishment so lets get creative in punishing criminals.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
A classic time-worn, knee-jerk reaction. This used to wiork before social media and smart phones ......... and greed took over our society. Is this why the government is training so many police?????? Saturation only works if police are not corrupt. Police are better educated, trained and paid ............ but crime is getting worse.
Ten thousand policeman ........ with many willing to take bribes, sex and gifts from criminals and citizens will not ensure a law abiding society.
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