The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net THE ARRIVAL of New York supercop William Bratton has thrown the spotlight on the fight against crime in the Bahamas - with both Bratton and the PLP saying that the police are already doing many of the right things to tackle crime. The announcement of Bratton's visit sparked considerable discussion, but it is unclear how extensive the relationship between the celebrated American crime fighter and the Bahamas will be, as no further consultations were announced. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Mr Bratton engaged in extensive discussions with the Cabinet and with senior police officers. He said: "We're fortunate to be able to access him and we found many of the comments he made useful. We will put some of those into effect." Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said he is pleased with the level of discussions and added that Mr Bratton "affirmed many of the things we are doing and was kind enough to offer advice based on his experience." Speaking with the press, Mr Bratton said the issue of crime continues to be one of the biggest concerns, not just in the Bahamas, but all over the world. "It has been my experience that to effectively deal with crime you must have a strong leadership and your Prime Minister has made it clear that it is one of his top priorities. "When dealing with crime you cannot rely on looking inward but rather to the shared experiences of other nations on an issue we all share because potential solutions and resolutions can be shared." Mr Bratton also praised the police force for their COMSTAT room, which he said is on par with the one in New York and Los Angeles. He said advanced technology is one of the key factors in fighting crime. Former Police Superintendent Keith Bell is one of the critics of the government's decision to bring in Mr Bratton. He questioned the timing of the visit as well as his "so-called expertise." Mr Bell, an official of the opposition PLP, said that while he respects Mr Bratton, there is nothing he can do for the Bahamas that has not already been done, or which Bahamians cannot do for themselves. He said :"We must put this visit in perspective. This situation also raises fundamental questions as to who the government is relying on for information. "There is nothing new he can tell us. Our crime problem is made of our social issues and the backlog in the courts. The community based strategies he implemented in Los Angles and New York is exactly like Urban Renewal which the FNM scrapped. "He was also instrumental in COMSTAT, a police command centre, which we already have. He cannot tell us anything new. His visit was nothing but a public relations stunt by the Prime Minister in the run-up to elections."