Police record drop in criminal activity

The decrease in reports of criminal activity over the last six months has been attributed to the effectiveness of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU).

Records collected from the Criminal Investigations Department on Wednesday this week revealed that a total of nine homicides occurred between January 2009 and June 16th.{{more}} This compares well with last year when 14 homicides were recorded during that six-month period.

Just last week, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Brinsely Ballantyne told SEARCHLIGHT that he is pleased with the low level of reports he has been receiving since Carnival kicked off last month. Two weeks ago, fewer than 25 reports of criminal activity were recorded island wide.

Ballantyne opined that it is the presence of the constant mobile and foot patrols by the police that has made the difference in the fight against crime. “I can say for sure that crime has decreased by far leading up to this period compared to 2008. I think it is the most effective strategy of all and we are gaining grounds each day,” Ballantyne noted.

Asked if the reduction in crime was testimony to the recent anti-crime fighting initiative “Vincy Pac”, Ballantyne said it was, to some extent, but the bulk of the success is attributed to the effectiveness of the Rapid Response Unit(RRU), also known as the “Black Squad”. “We have RRU all around the country and I think that it is because we are patrolling more than before that we have been able to fight crime effectively,” he stated. Ballantyne noted that there are branches of RRU personnel which span from Chateaubelair on the Leeward side of the island, all the way to Fancy on the windward coast.

“The RRU is being felt all over the country and because they are always seen, criminals are not taking any chances to engage in illegal activities,” Ballantyne explained.

Ballantyne admitted that even though such measures were in place last year, they were not so effective. The CID head mentioned that their main goal is to have a major decrease in crime for this year. Plans are already on the drawing board for next year to beef up security even more and to have more police patrols to combat crime.

Meanwhile, on Monday this week, on the radio programme “On the Beat” aired on the National Broadcasting Corporation, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Willisford Caesar, spoke about the police using proactive measures instead of reactive. Caesar also spoke about police efforts to respond more quickly to reports made to the headquarters on a daily basis.

Caesar mentioned that they are also formulating strategies to curb crime and violence among teens, not only in schools, but also throughout the nation.