Irritated by the continuing spate of gang violence, and encouraged by the support of Government, and other political operatives,Anguilla’s Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, has warned about a coming crackdown.
“I would say this strongly: we have recognised in the Police Force that there are two areas in the entire Anguillian community where most of this violence and gun issues are perpetrated and you can rest assured those areas will be sanitized as far as firearms are concerned,” the Police Commissioner warned at a press briefing on Wednesday.
“There will be a significant Police response to deal with those areas of crime – and parents, Anguillians generally, are going to understand. There are going to be disruptions, but it is going to be for the greater good of this Anguillian community.”
Mr. Proctor went on: “It would seem that a lot of Anguillians, today, are hiding behind a wall of silence and fear and are withholding information…in a lot of these incidents where people were injured or killed [and which] we have not resolved totally. And a lot of parents, children and other relatives continue to mourn and be subjected to pain because persons are withholding information.”
Mr. Proctor was pleased that the Government, and a number of political operatives, had now undertaken to publicly support the efforts of the Police. “I have been appealing for strong statements to be made to the Anguillian public so that these youths understand that they have no support with this ignorance,” he stated.
“We are getting very close to a very robust response and I want to prepare our people for it. I have said recently to Government officials, and the group of individuals who are campaigning to see an end to this sort of violence, that definitely there are going to be requirements for improvements to the resources the Police have…We are quite confident that we can handle the issues we are facing today, but where is the support of the population?”
Mr. Proctor gave this stern message: “I want to say to criminals in general and the criminal of the latest incident: don’t sleep easy. As soon as we put the final pieces of the puzzle together, we are coming to get you. It has happened before and I am confident it will happen this time again. To those Anguillians who are so far reluctant to help, and they know who they are, you too should come forward and hasten it.”
The Police Commissioner expressed serious concern over a case in which persons circulated photographs showing the latest gunshot victim lying on the ground, but providing no information about the incident. “Why would it be of general interest to witness a crime or a murder, and say nothing, do nothing…and taking pictures and sending them [out]? he asked. “You are only hurting the parents and other relatives of that person; and secondly you are adding to the tension of the other side. There is no doubt about it. These are the signs of the potential development of gangs.”
Mr. Proctor also took a swipe at certain persons on talk shows, and other social media, whom he said were adding to the tension on the island. “I am all for people expressing themselves because there are a lot of positives that result, but on some issues we should seek facts before we go publicly, because it is only emboldening the youth who are committing the violence and adding to the tension in our community,” he stressed.
Usually known for his calm disposition, the Police Commissioner was also angry about a rumour that a curfew had been imposed on the island. “There is a rumour stating that the Commissioner of Police, in consultation with His Excellency [the Governor], had instated a curfew meaning that after midnight nobody should be seen on the streets. That is far from the truth,” he emphasised. “Those persons responsible for this sort of malicious behaviour are only adding to the already tense situation we are facing…They are simply trying to distract Anguillians’ attention from the real issues we should be discussing. Why aren’t these programmes addressing our children taking up guns…? In 2007 the Royal Anguilla Police Force dealt with two murders: a serious shooting and a disappearance. We didn’t see it fit at that time to put a curfew in place. What now would require us to put a curfew in place? How irresponsible it is for people to put this out in an already tense situation!”
Mr. Proctor went on: “There is one other issue that I would mention here coming out of the rumour about a curfew. Under the Sound Amplification Act, the Commissioner of Police is responsible for giving permission to persons…The policy decision was that entertainment in residential areas will cease on weekdays and Sundays at midnight, and all the major entertainment places know that. Friday and Saturday, the entertainment goes on until 2.00 a.m.
“The same number of complaints that people want their places open until 3 and 4 o’clock, are the same number, and more, complaints we are getting from people needing to sleep at a certain time. You cannot expect to go into a residential area, where people spent so much money on homes, and have music until 3 and 4 o’clock.” He noted that the time is extended for major festive occasions.
The Commissioner of Police denied rumours that he would soon move to shutdown entertainment places from 10.00 p.m.
