The country’s National Security Minister Marvin H. Dames has warned criminals that law enforcement agencies intend to make their lives “very uncomfortable” as a number of new crime-fighting initiatives will be rolled out to decrease criminal behavior in the Bahamas.
“This is a promise,” Dames said, as he announced that the law enforcement agencies will be “taking a more aggressive approach to handling drug peddling and shutting down drug houses in communities throughout New Providence, Grand Bahama and across the Family Islands.
Review of persons granted bail
Dames said he has been informed by police that they have conducted a review of persons on bail who are not complying with their bail conditions.
“Further, they have discovered that more than 50 persons were not in compliance and they have already arrested a number of those persons and subsequently their bail was revoked. At present, there are 268 persons currently being monitored for various offenses. Out of the 268 serious offenses committed there are: 70 for homicides, 18 for attempted murders, 102 for armed robberies and 59 for firearm offenses.”
He said that the police intelligence has also revealed that the murders have occurred in various hot spots and that police will increase vehicle and foot patrols and will be using all of the technology available to them including increased monitoring of CCTV and all of their resources to curtail these violent crimes.
He said the new Hubert Minnis government had campaigned in the last general election on a manifesto that outlined plans to deal with the crime situation here.
“We will immediately commence with the establishment of the National Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch Council to grow community involvement in the fight against crime,” he said, adding that the council will establish crime watch groups in every community and these groups will endeavor to establish commonality and examine community prevention measures.
“The council will study the feasibility of citizen patrols working with police to improve relationships and prevent crime. Additionally, the council will collaborate with multi-government agencies and non-governmental agencies.”
He also promised that the government will review the establishment of the Royal Bahamas Police Force “as we feel that this is one of those areas that if we get right, should go a long way in reducing high levels of crime in our communities.
