Chief Inspector responsible for Neighbourhood Policing, Mr Frank Devonish, addressing residents of the Second District at a community meeting last evening October 30, 2012. At left is Acting Police Commissioner David Morris, 2nd left is President of UDC Chaunci Cline and partially hidden is Vice-President of UDC Taluchi Farrington. Photo: VINO

This appeal was made last evening October 30, 2012 when the Second District United Development Council (UDC) held a Meet and Greet session with Acting Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Mr David Morris and other members of the force at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre.

The issues were raised by President of the UDC Chaunci Cline, who claimed that reports reaching her are that tourists were being robbed in broad daylight at the beach and having a police presence at the beaches, especially the Cane Garden Bay beach, would be a deterrent to criminals

Most of these robberies occurring in the area, it was stated, were of personal articles often left unattended by tourists.

One resident suggested that plain clothes policemen should be considered at the beaches.

Another resident opined that a police presence would also be a deterrent to unruly tourists.

It was also highlighted that taxi drivers, reportedly in their rush to cash in on maximum trips for tourists, are in the habit of speeding including in the school zones and a call was made for the RVIPF’s Traffic Department to be more vigilant in that regard.

Meanwhile, the UDC presented a Neighbourhood Watch Draft Plan as an initiative to assist police in curbing the alleged rise in crime in the District. It said it is working to create a map of the district, which would include names, numbers and email addresses of persons within the neighbourhood. Another plan is to select neighbourhood watch leaders who will cover an area of no more than 10 to 15 homes.

Meanwhile, Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Alwyn James noted that 16 CCTV cameras have been placed throughout the Territory at strategic locations including one in Cane Garden Bay. These cameras, he said, are monitored in the control room of the Road Town Police Station.

Mr James also said the number of CCTV cameras installed will total 29 when another 13 more are introduced in the second phase of the project. He also said the cameras were a “big help” as the force was already short in numbers and could not be everywhere. “But those cameras will provide additional eyes for us and we have officers who are monitoring those cameras 24/7 in the control room.”

It was also noted that the legislation for the use of CCTV cameras has not been passed in the House of Assembly so it cannot be used as evidence in court; however, the RVIPF is going ahead with installing the CCTV cameras in anticipation of the legislation being brought to the House and subsequently passed.

The handful of residents at the meeting was also informed that the RVIPF has equipped its response vehicles with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) devices. “So in the control room at any given time the operators can tell exactly where our vehicles are.” This, Mr James said, will help to improve on the force’s response time as vehicles nearest to crime area could be immediately dispatched when reports come in.

The community was also reminded of the three digit non-emergency number- 311 to reach the RVIPF’s control room where callers can be patched through to whichever police station they would like to reach. This is in addition to the emergency 911 number.

Mr Morris advised that the community could help in areas such as ensuring a well lit environment at nights and the cutting of bushes in certain areas that could be favourable for criminals, and canvassing representatives to improve the environment to prevent crime from occurring.

“At the same time you need to be looking, as neighbourhood watch groups, as community groups, and individually at your own properties and at things that you are leaving [unattended].”

The Acting Commissioner also advised persons to refrain from leaving valuables in their car or leaving their key in their car.

“Unfortunately the Territory is not what it used to be. We have crime increasing. We have different communities now, we have multi-cultural, multi-ethnic communities and people tell me of days gone by when we used to know each other. That’s changed and it’s not going to go back.”

Mr Morris concluded that the Territory has seen an increase in organised crime and community crimes which has placed more demands on the RVIPF and which is why the support of law-abiding residents is very important.