By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
STATE Minister of National Security Keith Bell yesterday said a “lock down” of crime hot spots in New Providence is necessary to “turn the tables” on serious criminals.
Mr Bell said police need to be acutely aware of the movement of persons in certain areas that are known hot beds for crime or neighbourhoods where criminals live.
The senator also revealed several initiatives the government has implemented as a result of the “special meetings” Prime Minister Perry Christie announced he would have with National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade almost a month ago.
“We cannot continue to do the same thing over and expect to get a different result,” Mr Bell told The Tribune outside the Senate. “It means that we have to do something differently. I think the Bahamian people are to the point where they are prepared to allow us to take draconian actions because it cannot be where the peaceful country that we know, we allow a handful of persons to hold us at bay.
“A lock down means that anything that goes in, anything that wants to come out, and anything that moves within, law enforcement is aware (of),” Mr Bell said. “I’m not necessarily talking about law-abiding citizens. I’m talking about these serious criminals. It’s either them or us. It means that we have to turn the tables on them.”
After Mr Christie’s press secretary and friend Latore Mackey was killed a month ago reportedly during an attempted robbery, the prime minister said that he would hold several “special meetings” to decide what could be done to “immediately” stop the escalating number of violent crimes.
Yesterday Mr Bell said law enforcement has started to implement some initiatives in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
“We are about to graduate three police squads very soon,” Mr Bell said. “We anticipate that they would go directly on the front-line, particularly in New Providence. The commissioner has restructured the saturation patrols to a certain extent. You would have seen an increase in police presence, particularly in our tourist areas.
“I would emphasize that when we talk about police presence, many people look for the uniform. But we don’t only have uniformed officers, we have a lot of plainclothes officers roaming around, and, of course, you would note they are supplemented with the CCTV and other intelligence means by which we are able to target prolific offenders.
“Additionally, we are moving very quickly to establish the 10 courts – they are just about completed. We are currently identifying and establishing judges that we can appoint to those courts. We are also ensuring that where we identify these prolific offenders, we try to get those cases tried as quickly as we possibly can.”
Mr Bell said there are “some other things” the government is also currently looking at to prevent crime. However, he refused to specify what they were because he did not want to pre-empt Mr Christie and Dr Nottage.
Up to press time, the murder count for 2014 stood at 88, according to The Tribune’s records.
Comments
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
Sounds like Mr. Bell is pushing for a 'Police State'. This will only burden the people more whilst the criminals laugh & chuckle.
Tommy77 10 years, 2 months ago
Yes it do.
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HolandObserver 10 years, 2 months ago
'crime hotspots" eh... and where exactly are these kind sir?
realfreethinker 10 years, 2 months ago
I wondered why the tribune referred to him as " the security chief?"
larry 10 years, 2 months ago
All the crime "hot spots" are represented by his colleagues in the governing party you think they are going to allow their base to be "locked down" that would be admitting they represents all the criminals.
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Comrade Keith coming up with a strategic plan to address the crime in the troubled neighbourhoods would be interfering with the free movement of residents, especially those wanting walk and drive the streets to lay down their bets at any one of their popular neighbourhoods numerous numbers houses, something that certainly might ain't got no chance in hell be well received by the PM your cabinet colleagues? Comrade Keith, obviously you ever lock-down strategic plan, ain't to exclude Centerville, Bains Town and Fox Hill? It's called too many have an invested interest in the protecting freedom of movement to buy they numbers. but knowing this government's numbers mentality, they will come up with some way of lifting the lock-down curfew during the peek numbers betting hours?
Sickened 10 years, 2 months ago
All they need is a helicopter or two in the air at certain 'hot times'. With this they should be able to track and apprehend many crimes.
They also need to finger print and take pictures of all people have any sort of gang tattoo or those goofy gang haircuts with a tuft of hair sticking out the side. These are signs of weakness and proof that they are susceptible to gang pressure and of very weak character. Any member of a gang should also be searched and questioned by police at all times.
Straight_Talk_Bahamas 10 years, 2 months ago
Drones not helicopters...
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
Drones are too expensive, and the Bahamas does not have the infrastructure or man power/intelligence to be able to adapt these types of aircraft. Let alone recruit them to their arsenal and maintain them at the same time. Did I also mention that drones are not for sale to any country? The USA currently owns the drone initiative and are using the technologies for far more serious issues. China and Russia are still trying to come out with their first successful drone. Helicopters equipped with Spot lights and night-vision/FLIR systems like on COPS (tv show) will of course do the job. The question is, do we have effective and available helicopter pilots for this task..
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
Thanks JohnDoes, I learned something new.
GrassRoot 10 years, 2 months ago
I think they should have 10 helicopters, so at least one is working and operational.
realfreethinker 10 years, 2 months ago
lol
John 10 years, 2 months ago
According to the commissioner detecting crime and hauling the perpetrators before the courts is not the problem. The problem is repeated offenders who are being released on bail before their trials come up. The government promised to reduce the wait time for criminal trials be implementing additional courts to deal with them. And like most things under this government, it aint gonna happen or it will be very late (again).
Emac 10 years, 2 months ago
@JohnDoes- You are way off. http://money.msn.com/auto-insurance/c_g…
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
Umm we dont want something that anyone will be able to shoot out of the sky. Quad copters aren't drones, although they would like them to be and only one thing caught my eye in that article which then proved that it was only a 'replica' of the real thing. Come on man, In terms of protecting the country, we need military grade drones to ensure durability despite weather, stealth, rapid deployment, and of course a good investment and life span along with the proper personnel to effectively control it.
Emac 10 years, 2 months ago
Well I would think that the purpose of using drones would be to gather intelligence and or surveillances. They also have manufacturers that can customize drones specifically for certain customers or jobs. Besides no. 9 has high-tech mapping capabilities and can produce quality, accurate photos and data maps while withstanding unfavorable weather like rain and snow. It can fly for about 45 minutes before it needs to be recharged.
John 10 years, 2 months ago
Can you'all please switch the convo to "reality Bahamas C R I m E?
Emac 10 years, 2 months ago
Lol yeah ya right. I forgot which country I was talkin about!
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
If only Comrade Preacherman's Myles could break himself away from schooling crown minister Freddy, he might care to share his viewpoint on minister Keith's mission, for policeman's lock-down of hot crime spots? Whether it is only by armed brute force - can there be change in the way policeman's and residents can work together and build trust? Will brute force inflicted upon an entire neighnourhood's people freedom of movement be the missing motivation force for them, not to look sideways when crimes are being committed? I think this is far more important than matters of no relevance to the job minister Freddy performs on behalf the government of the day.
John 10 years, 2 months ago
Every time da Bell that doesn't ring too often opens his mouth crime shoots through the roof. Maybe he should leave policing to (current) policemen.
Stapedius 10 years, 2 months ago
He says change but it sounds same old to me. Saturation patrols, police squads etc. We have to do two things in my opinion. First seriously invest in education and social development to stop breeding criminals. Second, eradicate the disease called 'guns,' which so many our country appear to have. There needs to be an all out assault on guns. There is no need for them in our society. Many of us have adopted this attitude as if owning a gun is a right. Well its not and we need to remove these weapons from our society as much as we can.
John 10 years, 2 months ago
CRIME HOTSPOTS..lets name some: House of Assembly, Web Shops, Unopened Critical Care Block at PMH, Up to 20 Blackouts a day @ BEC, The two buildings on JFK what tripple in price, passports for sale, work permits going, going gone! Letter of Intent and who didn't sign it, Schools open but BAMSI ain't, please feel free to add your own hotspot
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
PHA, BOB, BTC missing trailer, Foreign widow's estate settlement
John 10 years, 2 months ago
BTC $2 million in missing phone cards and the suspects just get to resign,
John 10 years, 2 months ago
It’s either them or us This is what help escalate things when Bell was on the force. They launched an attack on regular citizens (young men) and not just hardened criminals. This action, which included pulling young men off the streets, ranshacking their vehicles and beating them, turned many young people against the police and made them anti-social. Now we see the consequences.
ChaosObserver 10 years, 2 months ago
Let see, you lock down one area, and what do crooks do? Go to another area and do crime....limited, small thinking solution for sure..
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