Tranquility wrapped in blue. Can Anguilla honestly still be described as “tranquility wrapped in blue?” The spate of killings being experienced in recent years says otherwise. Do we want to return to the days when tranquility wrapped in blue was a truism for Anguilla? Many of us say yes, but it is not apparent in the behaviour of some of us.
Many of us are of the view that the curbing of crime is solely the responsibility of the police and the Governor who has constitutional responsibility for internal security. The regular requests from the police for assistance from civilians are viewed by some as the police wanting them to do their job for them. Is it a failing on the part of the police that members of the Anguilla populace do not appreciate the basics involved in police investigations and criminal prosecutions?
Many people genuinely do not appreciate what is required to bring criminals to justice. Some simple questions might assist in fostering a greater appreciation of the role citizens (the man on the street) must play in bringing criminals to justice.
Are police officers often present when crimes are committed? No. Reliance must be placed on innocent bystanders who happened to be present to say what they saw or heard.
Can police officers be everywhere so as to remove reliance on civilian witnesses? No. Unless our desire is for a police force whose members outnumber the populace; this is not an option.
Will there be occasions when a civilian saying something will not be enough? Yes. A successful conviction might require the civilian to give evidence.
Obviously, civilians have a significant role to play in bringing criminals to justice. Police often arrive at the scene of a crime after the incident. They must then secure evidence to identify the perpetrator of the crime and to successfully prosecute that person. If persons have a better appreciation of the essential role of civilians in curbing crime will that be enough to ensure their ready assistance? This is unlikely to be sufficient as many persons express fear of being a target of the criminals if they are known to be assisting the police. It would, in these circumstances, be particularly useful if the police could give civilians real assurances that their security will not be in jeopardy.
Can the Royal Anguilla Police Force realistically assure persons that their safety will not be at risk if they see something and therefore say something? Despite assurances of a confidential hotline, civilians remain reluctant to even communicate anonymously. If civilians are reluctant to communicate anonymously, how will they be convinced to appear as witnesses at a trial?
Anguilla’s authorities must address the upsurge in crime from all angles. One angle is to improve the success rate for investigations and prosecutions. Currently criminals seem to be acting with impunity as they appear to have little fear of being discovered and brought to justice. The more crimes remain unsolved the more likely people inclined to commit crime will be minded to do so as the likelihood of discovery and/or conviction seems slim.
A key step towards the restoration of tranquility in paradise requires an increased understanding of the role of civilians in curbing crime. This should be coupled with increased confidence in our police force and our prosecutors to ensure the safety of witnesses and to secure convictions. Is energy being focused on those areas?
