An investigation has been launched into allegations that officers stationed at the Biabou Police Station did not respond to requests made by a woman, who was subsequently murdered, for assistance.{{more}}

Speaking on the “Police on the Beat” programme on Monday, August 22, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller expressed great concern about reports that had been made following the death of Stephmnie Daniel of Greiggs.

Miller said, on reading a newspaper report that the police had not responded to Daniel’s requests for assistance to retrieve her belongings from the home of her former boyfriend, he called Assistant Superintendent of Police Wilisford Caesar of the Criminal Investigation Department and asked him to start an investigation into the matter.

Daniel died on Sunday, August 14,2011, as a result of a stab wound to her neck. Her former lover Aubrey Wilson has been charged with her murder.

Stepmnie’s mother Elizabeth told SEARCHLIGHT that Stephmnie had made a report to the Biabou Police about a week before her death, after an altercation had taken place between her and her former boyfriend.

Elizabeth also reported that another report was made on Monday, August 8, as Stephmnie wanted to get her things out of the house that she and her former boyfriend shared. Elizabeth said that she was told by Police to wait, and added that both she and her daughter again went to the station on Friday, August 12. Police had told them that they would come that very afternoon, but they never showed up until Stephmnie was killed.

“I cannot see why policemen would want to sit in the stations and refuse to respond to people’s complaints. We must not take anything for granted. We must not slight anything,” Miller said during the radio programme. He added that one of community policing strategies is to nip things in the bud, and that their focus is on prevention.

A caller in the programme brought up the issue of lack of police transport. Miller, in response, re-emphasized the need for Police officers to get out of the station, adding that while he worked at an out station, there was a problem with lack of vehicles, “but you cannot wait and sit down in a station”. Miller stated that he had to walk from Colonarie to Chapmans and from Calliaqua to Kelbourney.

“We have good members of the public out there …Once you start to walk, a good driver might ask you where are you going, can I help you? You will get a ride,” Miller said. He added that police officers can also call neighbouring stations within their divisions if there is no transport available.

Miller added that the police force is in discussion with a corporate citizen to provide smaller vehicles such as bicycles for moving around in the Kingstown area.

He further commented that an Inspector’s role as an officer is to be on the road. “They (Inspectors), I think, will be in serious trouble if an Inspector is at the station and he gets a report and he sits there waiting on a transport,” Miller said.

He further highlighted the involvement of the police within the community as a means of strengthening the community policing service of the Police Force. “But every police man must get out there and get involved… touch base with members of the community,” Miller said.

He said that he was impressed after seeing the structure of a neighbourhood watch programme in the Bahamas. “I’m so impressed where I met with persons running the neighbourhood watch programme. No police is on that committee. Members of the community are taking the lead. We have to bring this on board in St. Vincent,” Miller related.

He added that the RSVPF will be engaging in a house to house campaign to encourage persons to become part of the neighbourhood watch programme. He added that they are in the process of having meetings with members of the various communities, including, Nurses, District Medical Officers, Justices of Peace and farmers.(OS)