The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

We will enjoy continued reductions in crime by identifying and addressing criminal  behaviour. We must Notify, Identify and Testify. We will be successful in detecting, deterring and preventing criminal attacks by continuing to build upon a growing successful partnership between our law enforcement agencies, private security, the media and the public. We must have faith, trust and be patient, that our law enforcement agencies will eradicate the present crime trend.

In our country security and safety depends greatly on citizen involvement. No law enforcement agency can effectively protect life and property without the support and cooperation of the citizens it serves. We ask, that all of you; public, media and security officers be the eyes and ears of our police force. One can never underestimate the importance of partnership and cooperation between private sector security services and the law enforcement agencies, in particular the Royal Bahamas Police Force…since the job description of both entities are similar in nature, education, communication and collaboration are crucial in order to enhance the level of productivity between the agencies.

As we develop as a nation, there are increasing demands on the resources of our police force, thereby making it increasingly necessary for the force to devolve itself of and where necessary share its responsibilities with other competent law enforcement and security agencies, who have gained the respect and confidence of the residents of the country.

Crime continues to pose a threat to our way of life. Our safety and security are in jeopardy Crime prevention and neighbourhood watch programmes are very necessary and must be encouraged. Inadequate security in our hotels must be addressed by the Ministry of Tourism and should be a part of the licencing process. The double murders at a hotel in Bimini have been a good example of inadequate security in hotels.

I had suggested in the past that hotels security personnel should be trained at the police college. The cost to be borne by the hotel or security provider. They must qualify to be security officers.

Our government must use every weapon at its disposal to discourage criminal activity. One such weapon is the laws, which provides for the seizure and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, which is not being used.

The Financial Intelligence Unit of the Public Treasury and the Attorney General’s Office must take action against that large number of criminals, who are being allowed to escape with their assets, much of which is being spent in legal fees fighting extradition. There are also those foreigners in our midst, who are involved in criminal activity; eg drug smuggling and human trafficking. Deportation must be used as a weapon against all such persons.

I wish to commend our police force and law enforcement agencies for the courage displayed by its personnel. In spite of the frequent criticism by politicians and talk-show hosts the record of detection and the backlog in our courts is huge.

PAUL THOMPSON Sr

Nassau,

March 10, 2016.