Crackdown on Crime!On Monday April 4th, Prime Minister Dean Barrow flanked by Minister of the Police and Public Safety, Hon. Douglas Singh and Minister of National Security, Hon. Carlos Perdomo and supported by heads of every law enforcement unit and their CEOs held a press conference to address the growing concerns over crime, in particular in Belize City.
During the press conference, both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Police expounded on realistic measures which will be taken in order to address the crime situation. In addressing the gathering, first came the admission that there is a failure to prosecute and convict criminals at an acceptable rate. In order to arrest the situation P.M. Barrow explained that legislative changes will be looked at to do so. In essence there are four proposals to address the low prosecutorial rate: laws will be changed in order to put in place preventative detention through constitutional changes; change legislation in the process by which convicted criminals go through the appealing process; fix the law to preserve the anonymity of persons testifying in criminal cases and finally the Prime Minister will propose the removal of trial by jury in cases of murder.
Speaking on the issue of preventative detention, the Prime Minister cited the last occasion back in 2008 when the government attempted to make constitutional changes to allow for this and explained that because of the resistance government stepped back. There is no such thing that will happen this time around as Cabinet has already made a decision to proceed with the legislation. Hon. Douglas Singh explained to the Guardian that the proposal being made to have the detention period for 14 to 21 with provision put in place as safeguards to avoid abuse.
As it relates to the issue of eliminating the process of trial by jury, P.M. Barrow took the matter to Cabinet for consideration and it will be looked at in specific cases where persons are accused of gang-related murders. In this matter the PM says that Belize would not be the only jurisdiction where such legislation would be put in place and added that in fact a trial by judge would be fairer for the accused.
On the Ground
On the issue of manpower on the streets and equipping police personnel to do their work the Prime Minister committed in investing money to provide the security forces with necessary equipment including firearms bullet proof vests, firearms and radios. He explained that police officers ought not be in fear when conducting their job. He also committed more money to be place in the Special Branch, Gang Suppression Unit. Those moneys will be had from the Central Bank of Belize out of ‘dead’ or inactive accounts. There are provisions in the government’s financial regulations to do this. Â
In the case of the Special Branch, the Minister of Police explained that they will be deployed to gather more intelligence on gang activity. That unit will be only one component of a greater police presence on the streets which is being bolstered by manpower from Belmopan as well as more BDF officers commanded by a Lt. colonel and two captains to compliment the policemen. Patrols will also be increased from 8 hour to 12 hour shifts. There will be increased checkpoints and all Assistant Commissioners of Police will be deployed to Belize City to head various operations. Also enlisted will be the assistance of the Coast Guard who will conduct both land and sea checkpoints and patrols. Already they have been deployed at the mile 4 Western Highway Checkpoint. Additional emphasis will also be put on arresting individuals with outstanding warrants as well as those who’ve skipped bail. Other longer term initiatives will include the establishment of an ICC or an Independent Complaints Commission to oversee complaints against police officers. There may also be considerations put on ‘temporary lockdown’ of areas as we find ourselves in a state of crisis, but that is subject to some onsideration.
In all the package of anti-crime initiatives are broad and far reaching and if we were to combine those with assistance from the general citizenry of Belize, we can definitely defeat crime!
