Gang violence and other violent crime issues were among the agenda items at the recent Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police Conference in the Bahamas at which Anguilla was represented by Commissioner Rudolph Proctor.
Mr. Proctor spoke to reporters on Wednesday this week about some aspects of the conference and how they could be applied to the situation inAnguilla. “We look at fighting gangs within theCaribbeanregion and we had some very good presenters, a number from the area and others from outside,” he said. “It was a very good meeting of Law Enforcement Heads and, for me, I had an opportunity to discuss with some of my counterparts some of the strategies that they are using to tackle firearm crime. This is something that I will be discussing in detail and which will assist in our strategy going forward in dealing with these issues.
“I paid attention to those territories where their Police Forces are similar in size to us and also in terms of population, and other matters, to see how best they deal with issues of crime. That will be part of what we will be adding to what we will be doing.”
Mr. Proctor recalled that he had recently warned the Anguillian community that the Police would be undertaking a number of activities, as part of a crackdown, to combat the surge in firearm crime which erupted inAnguillarecently.
“We have started as far as this is concerned and that is going to continue until the end of the year,” he went on. “We are having success in some issues. I want to thank those who are already cooperating with the Police by providing information, and we will continue to work with them. Those who are not yet on board, we want to still appeal to them to come forward to assist.
“We are still open in relation to the shooting on theJeremiah Highwaythat resulted in the death of Gustav Hodge. Persons having information regarding that crime can come to the Police Station and ask to speak either to Superintendent Forbes, who has overall responsibility, or Detective Inspector Rogers who is dealing with the investigation. If they choose, they can come and see me directly so that weget that information we need to take action.
“We are somewhat confident that, on what we are doing, we will make an arrest, but we believe we could have been in a better position if persons who witnessed the crime would have come forward earlier.”
Mr. Proctor continued: “I want to say that the impact that firearm crime is having on our country, and some other countries in the region, is a negative one. It is not an issue whereby people should take great comfort in using whatever media they can, and laying blame [on the Police] because there are a number of people who come to the Police after the fact. It is important for that information to reach us in real time, not two or three months down the road after somebody has been shot and in one instance killed. Any other case in which persons have information, and can say ‘I saw or I witnessed’, we are willing and open to pursue the crimes.”
