Governor Alistair Harrison, who has responsibility for the Police, and Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, delivered radio broadcasts as part of the current week of activities marking the 40th Anniversary of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
The Governor, who gave the opening address, on Sunday night, January 22, said it was the third time so far, since his appointment, that he was involved in Police Week. He praised the packed programme of activities in which there was something for all persons in Anguilla to participate.
He asked all residents to think on the theme of the programme: “Public Security A Shared Responsibility”. He said it demonstrated in a few well-chosen words, that policing in Anguilla was too important a job to be left to the Police alone. He paid tribute to the work of the Police, saying they were able to keep Anguilla as a low-crime jurisdiction in which most offenders were brought to justice although it might take longer than the citizenry might like.
“Equally, they can’t do that by themselves,” he continued. “They need the cooperation of the public in lots of ways. If a crime is committed, and you know something about it, you know any piece of information – however trivial it may seem to you – let the Police know it. But perhaps, more important, if it comes to prosecuting alleged criminals, you might be asked to make a statement in Court. It is not the sort of thing that any of us might want to do, but it is the sort of thing that we will have to do sometimes if we are to keep Anguilla as a low-crime jurisdiction where criminals are brought to justice.
“More generally, all of us as parents, friends, role models, teachers or public servants, should show our young people that crime is not the best way to live their lives for the consequences for them, and for our society, will be very bad. Again, that can’t just be left to the Police alone, and all of us have a role to play.”
Governor Harrison stressed that Police Week 2012 was slightly different than others in that it marked the very important 40th Anniversary of Police Week which began in 1972. He said there was a need to consider how much Anguilla had changed over that period and how much the job of the Police had also changed.
He said that one of the changes was that there were now more crimes and criminals. The big prison was full; the original small prison, with twelve cells, was all the island previously had, and probably in the 1970s half of those cells would have been empty at any one time. He was of the view that the way the Police responded to increased crime was very impressive. He warned that over the next 40 years, and even during the coming five to ten years, there would be new unforeseen challenges for the Police.
He observed that some of the developmentson the island in the last few months had been worrying, with the proliferation of guns. He was certain that all persons could play a part in reversing that trend in the interest ofAnguilla.
“But let me not end on something gloomy,” Governor Harrison added. “I think Police Week is an opportunity to celebrate the last 40 years and to enjoy ourselves, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the events that I will be joining in; and I say to the Police, and every member of the public, have a very good week.”
In his address, Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, congratulated “Commissioner Rudolph Proctor and the entire Police Force for continuing to be dedicated to a profession which is becoming more challenging on several fronts.” He continued: “I say to you happy Ruby anniversary, and I trust that this important national institution will continue to be operated embracing the high standards that have been set over the years.
“When I perused the invitation from the Commissioner to make this address, the theme, “Public Security A Shared Responsibility”, immediately caught my attention. It did so because the statement is a profound one with perfect timing. The theme challenges us all to look inwardly and ask ourselves to what extent do we adhere to the principle that this theme proposes.
“The theme is saying to us that if public security is going to be administered at an acceptable level, which promotes consistency and fairness, then it cannot be left to the Royal Anguilla Police Force alone to achieve this goal. This is a national goal, and while the Royal Anguilla Police Force is at the forefront, in terms of public security, its best efforts will not be enough if the Force is surrounded by people who are unwilling to play their part in making sure that this country is safe and populated by law-abiding citizens.”
The Chief Minister advised the people of Anguilla to reach out to the Police as the lawmen were doing to them; and not to condone or protect wrong-doing while claiming to love the island.
“We must not fear the notion that public security is a shared responsibility,” Mr. Hughes concluded. “We must embrace it and, when we do, that will develop a distinctive culture where the message will be clear. That message will be that Anguilla is a society that helps to police itself. Anguilla is a society that makes the job of the Police Force easier – and a society where wrong-doing is loathed not only by the Royal Anguilla Police Force, but by a population which views public security as a shared responsibility between the Police and the community.”
