Criminals be warned: DPP hails new crime fighting initiatives

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Colin Williams has issued a stern warning to criminals and would-be criminals.{{more}}

The DPP, who was at the time speaking at the closing of the electronic interviewing of vulnerable and intimidated witness workshop, last Friday, said police officers are now being better equipped with the right technology and skills to assist in the fight against crime.

“This is a worrying sign for those who are interested in crime and criminality. Be warned!” the DPP said.

Williams noted that since the introduction of the electronic interviewing of suspects in serious offences in 2013, more than 150 video interviews for suspects in serious offences have been executed.

“Given the results we have had so far, from that bit of legislation the training went down well and officers absorbed sufficiently, the training that was dispensed on that occasion,” Williams stated.

The one week workshop, which ran from January 7 to 17 and was funded by the British High Commission, was held in relation to the the Witness Special Measure Act.

The act, which was passed in Parliament on December 2, 2013, provides for an application to be made to the Court for a witness anonymity order and provides for special measures to be given in appropriate cases. These special measures include the giving of evidence by live link, video recorded evidence, the taking of evidence from outside of St Vincent and the Grenadines and prohibiting the defendant in certain cases from personally cross-examining a particular witness

According to Williams, with the latest workshop in which 24 police officers participated, it has been a telling tribute to the success with which the officers have been able to absorb the training and demonstrate their ability to use the technology effectively.

The DPP added that a senior officer from a regional police force visited here recently and noted that that particular jurisdiction would have had the issue of electronic interviews in place before St.Vincent, but have never activated it.

“He was here and had the opportunity to observe and questions how it is St.Vincent and the Grenadines have been able to perform in terms of interviewing of suspects in serious offences.”

Williams added that while they have not been able to offer witness protection in its fullness, the new legislation in place will help.

“There are instances where witnesses are willing to testify but are afraid for various reasons… People now have to think twice and three times because St. Vincent is narrowing the space daily, not by just recruiting excellent personnel into the ranks of the RSVGPF, but putting in the legal, lawful mechanisms through which the police officers can continue to perform,” the DPP said.

Williams thanked Dan Suter, criminal justice advisor to the Eastern Caribbean at the British High Commission in Barbados for his contribution, energy, creativity and dynamism for assisting in getting the Witness Special Measure Act to fruition.

He said when they indicated an interest in getting the particular legislation, Suter facilitated in getting things up and running.