The Tribune

By PAUL THOMPSON SR

Former Assistant

Commissioner of Police

THE performance of our Police Force continues to be outstanding. We must continue to be supportive and express our gratitude for their performance.

The executive management of the police service is in capable hands. Morale is high and support for crime initiatives is overwhelming.

As in most law-enforcement organisations, there are the problems of corruption and discipline, which always seem to be present.

Eradicating these problems will depend on the efficiency and effectiveness of the middle management officers, who will encounter the problems.

Support from the public and the dedication of the Police Complaints Unit to expedite the investigation of complaints made against police personnel and to ensure that persons who complain are made aware of the outcome of those investigations.

I am convinced that personnel in the Police Complaints Unit are conducting their investigations fairly and efficiently and that those police officers found liable are made to appear before Police Tribunals or in the Criminal Courts.

I continue to be critical of the police in the areas of discipline as I am fully aware of what we had (British Army discipline) and what we have now.

I have often recommended that we make a united effort to restore the discipline we once had in all ranks.

It could be accomplished if the middle managers of the police service commit themselves to the task. Such an undertaking would be rewarding and further enhance police public relations, which is so important at this time. 

While police performance has been effective and deserves commendation in the area of major crime, the same cannot be said of the work being done in the area of minor crime.

I am aware of the concern of some senior police officers about the huge backlog of cases pending in the lower courts.

It is my submission that a concerted attack on minor crime would (a) help to restore order, the order we once enjoyed in our communities and (b) identify and expose those involved in major crimes caught committing the minor offences.

It is called “Zero Tolerance”. It has been a very effective weapon used by police in the large cities of the world.

There are examples, such as (a) the arrest of the key suspect in the bombing of the FBI Office in Kansas City – he was stopped by police for a traffic violation; (b) the arrest of a suspect for the bombing of the bullet-train in Japan occurred when he exceeded the speed limit. There have been several similar situations here where persons stopped for minor offences were found to be in possession of drugs, guns or stolen property. The zero tolerance concept was in operation here for a period and proved to be a success.

The minor crimes frequently encountered on the island of New Providence include:

Parking on sidewalks made for pedestrians. This poses dangers for pedestrians, and damages the sidewalks and the environment. Repair and replacement is costly.

• I recollect that the bicycle is a vehicle and should adhere to the rules of the road. Yet bicycles are used on sidewalks and against the flow of traffic on one-way streets.

Running the red light is very prevalent in certain locations on the island.

There has been an increase in the number of street vendors and those who sell for them in the area of our schools. Are these food vendors in possession of current medical certificates?  

Public service drivers, in particular those in our buses, who are improperly attired.  

Begging on the streets. Soliciting on the streets.  Mobile vendors operating in the shanty towns and liquor sales in the shanty towns.

• Motorcyclists riding dangerously, no licenses, no insurance, and no helmets, et cetera. The efforts of the Traffic Division need to be supported by all the officers in particular those on foot patrol.

An attack by the Police on minor crime would enhance security and safety awareness among residents and seek to restore order on our streets.

Safety and awareness is the least appreciated phrase in policing. The objective of police security and awareness programmes, such as crime prevention education could be very effective, but are very often ignored by the public.

Where security awareness has been established the criminal is going to be watchful, is going to be wary of committing any crime where he thinks there is police, presence even though there is no police presence.

He will most likely move to another location.

Awareness of police presence or possible police presence are important in discouraging persons from committing crime but particular effort is required by the police to sustain such awareness among criminals.

They must be made to think that the police is in the area. Such awareness is a state of mind, a recognition of the presence of the police programme aimed at reducing loss and preventing crime in the community.

Such police programmes must be perceived to be real and effective. 

Prevention is the bottom lime of the programmes and efforts of the police. Such programmes exist for the prevention of crime and ensuring that the community is safe and secure, provided that those persons residing in the community heed warnings and pay attention to crime prevention education. 

There is a term in policing called “real presence”.  It is the quality of the presence that makes police awareness function.

The presence of a policeman walking in a parking lot, a shopping mall or on the beat is real, but if the policeman is not alert, not paying attention to the surroundings, not observing the area he passes through, his presence loses some value.

The same applies to mobile patrol officers. Our mobile patrol officers have done exceedingly well in their stop, search and arrest procedures, which resulted in numerous seizures of firearms and drugs.

In addition, they must stay alert to all categories of suspicious persons and vehicles: a person wearing a warm hooded jacket seen loitering during the summer months, vehicles without licence plates and panel trucks moving at night must receive attention.

All patrol officers must be familiar with their powers to stop and search. It is called reasonable grounds of suspicion.

Quality police officers must be selected for mobile and foot patrols. Fitness must be a criteria.

There must be quality equipment, efficient and effective communication and the officers must be aware of the need to be in constant touch with the Police Control Centre.

Another major objective of the police is “rapid response”.  It has been talked about and efforts were made by several commissioners to improve the police response time when called for help by the residents.

For several years we have talked about the 3-5 minutes response time. It is very well known that police personnel able to respond within that period of time have been able to make arrests on the scene or close to the scene.

It enhances the image of the police and makes the public feel even more secure and safe. Early in the year 2012 I was present at Police Headquarters for the signing of a contract between the Bahamas Government and Motorola USA for the installation of GPS System in our police vehicles, in particular the police mobile patrol vehicles.

I learned during the discussion of the capability of the equipment – that its installation would have improved police response time immensely.

I was impressed by what I heard: (a) the Police Controller in the Police Control Centre, through the use of a map of New Providence and the lights on the map, would be aware of the exact location of each patrol vehicle; (b) upon receipt of a call for help or a complaint made by a member of the public, he would be able to have the policeman in the car he is sending listen to the conversation of the caller and get information first hand, eg descriptions et cetera; (c) the controller will know which patrol car is nearest to the scene of the crime or incident and of other cars he can deploy for support or road block duties as may be deemed necessary.

I was invited to the contract signing ceremony as for several decades I had been lobbying to get this kind of equipment for our police force.

The equipment will also eradicate the problem of officers leaving their patrol areas, without the knowledge and permission of the Police Control Room.

I had seen the equipment in operation in Detroit and Chicago. We were visiting with a Bahamas cricket team. There were a number of police officers on the team.

The police in both cities invited us to their headquarters where I saw the GPS system in operation. I know that the contract was signed, but I have not seen or heard anymore about the installation in police vehicles.

Over my years in the police service and after my retirement, I continued to make recommendations and observations to governments.

Among them are: (a) the breathalyser for mandatory testing of drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs (a copy of the Trinidad and Tobago laws was sent to the previous Ministry of National Security); (b) a copy of an Act to prohibit smoking in public places was sent to the previous Minister of Health. We all know that smoking causes ill health and those of us who do not smoke are at risk.

I have not heard of any move by parliamentarians to consider either of the above. In recent months I have written about copper thefts, requesting a ban on the export of copper, which we do not mine or manufacture, and expressed the view that we are exporting stolen copper. The same applies to gold.  Since the introduction of the Cash For Gold shops, thefts of gold, burglaries, housebreakings, snatchings and armed robberies have increased. Gold, like copper, is a target for criminals. Ready cash is available. In recent weeks my cry to ban copper exports have been supported by a politician and two reputable businessmen. It is hoped that someone will listen.

Illegal immigration is one of our major problems. We should not allow our leaders to continue delaying what needs to be done. There must be no shanty towns in our country and most importantly all persons residing here must be identified. It is what the USA is doing to enhance the security of their country. Voters must lobby their representatives for action.