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Criminals taking advantage of lack of Police presence - talk show caller

- said public does not trust Police hence the difficulty in getting them to cooperate
The One Mart Supermarket and Riteway Food Market were robbed by armed bandits weeks apart. Photo: VINO/File
The caller was speaking on the live call in show Speak Out BVI hosted by Douglas Wheatley (above). Photo: VINO/File
The caller was speaking on the live call in show Speak Out BVI hosted by Douglas Wheatley (above). Photo: VINO/File
Commissioner of Police Michael 'Mick' Matthews. Photo: VINO/File
Commissioner of Police Michael 'Mick' Matthews. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “Where are the Police foot patrols in the city?” This is the question that a caller to the Speak Out BVI radio talk show asked on Tuesday June 14, 2016 when he called into the live programme.

The man recalled a time when one could find a policeman and policewoman walking the streets together and lamented that this seems not to be the case any longer.

“But this is not happening today. Tell me the reason why,” he said.

In response, host of the talk show Douglas Wheatley said while he was not sure the reason why this seems not to be happening, he himself can recall the days of robust police foot and bicycle patrols in and around the city.

According to the caller, the criminals are observing the lack of Police presence on the streets and are taking advantage of it.

“The criminals are seeing this and taking advantage of it and then the police want the public to help them. But the public don't trust the police. They have to build the trust of the public,” said the caller.

Wheatley pointed out that lack of access to the Commissioner of Police by the public seems to be a continuing issue.

“I think that the Commissioner of Police should have an open door policy. I think you should be able to take the views that you have expressed here tonight to the Commissioner of Police and that he should be able to speak with you and hear the views that you have,” host Wheatley said.

Of late, new Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews has been appealing to the public to identify the perpetrators of a few brazen robberies of supermarkets and persons on the street. He insisted that people knew who these criminals are but are not coming forward to identify them to the police.

Matthews himself has been receiving cricitisms from members of the public for seemingly not doing enough to combat crime in the territory.

11 Responses to “Criminals taking advantage of lack of Police presence - talk show caller ”

  • Online Now (17/06/2016, 07:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poor mathew he did not get a honey moon like lyin duncan
  • Eyes in the sky (17/06/2016, 09:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happens to those eyes in the sky that we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for, aren't they working? This is the reason for the vision to catch criminals..What's the status?
  • Bamsel (17/06/2016, 10:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Policing 101 - Street patrol is necessary to know who is in your country. Rocket science - in the age of cell phone, security cameras, digital vehicle records and forensic evidence, we are still here talking about people who see the crime must give evidence to the police.
  • Jim Bob (17/06/2016, 11:36) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    so who is going to suffer when the public dont help the police, you think is the police will suffer, hell no, its the public will suffer, its just a matter of time before the masked men pounced on them and then you will see they run to the police and start to give information, the police no that they are not being affected by these crimes, they get paid anyway, so the pulic is who damaging them own self, lets see how long they can keep it up.
  • kk (17/06/2016, 11:41) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    The police officers are out there other money from the side jobs not what government is paying them to do and the head of police know that is what going on.
  • ... (17/06/2016, 12:13) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    bvi police remains a joke
  • Real Talk (17/06/2016, 12:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    What is wrong with these people police police police .police are humans in uniform that needs help to solve crime the reason we can't get any crimes its because it's our own involve
  • The Reaper (17/06/2016, 18:54) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    They don't give a Shit...They come for the Money....The U.S..Real Talk... Where is Reallly and For Real...U all talking piss..Where u all At
  • King Kunta (17/06/2016, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People who actually work they don't want to pay, but who didn't making noise for money! stueps.
  • i solve mysteries (22/06/2016, 16:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought police would work as security when them clock out from their main work.
  • Yow (25/06/2016, 22:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the Police officers had more of a presence in the community they would be more respected. They stay locked up at the station instead of patrolling the streets.


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