Tourism Police Unit helps industry and public
When it was first introduced, the idea of a special law enforcement unit dedicated to tourism was considered somewhat radical… but today the sight of these uniformed men and women is both commonplace and welcomed by both visitors and locals. Today News Five’s Jacqueline Woods spoke to their commanding officer for an update.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Ten years ago the Tourism Police Unit was established to assist the tourism industry and its growing number of visitors. The forty-seven men and women who do the work are all full time police officers who have been trained and have the powers of arrest. Patrols are conducted in areas frequented by visitors. T.P.U. commanding officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Aaron Guzman, says he has been encouraged by the level of assistance given to them by the public…as one robber recently discovered.
A.S.P. Aaron Guzman, O.C, Tourism Poilice Unit
?I must say though that the industry has developed over the past three years since I have been at the unit, where I see the input of private citizens helping us eighty percent of the time. There was an incident about three months ago where a taxi driver, who is also a tour guide, had the opportunity to see a Mexican tourist being robbed of her camera and he took off on foot and chased that person and we did get the camera and we did get the culprit.?
?Well I would really like to say that I appreciate the support of the private individuals out there who are in the tourism industry and I ask that they continue, and the country of Belize, everyone here will realise that tourism?as the logo says?tourism is everybody?s business.?
A.S.P. Guzman says this is the time of the year that the T.P.U. is very busy, with administrative as well as criminal matters.
A.S.P. Aaron Guzman
?A lot of complaints are not of a criminal nature, they are more of an administrative nature in relation to hotels, in relation to tour operators not following guidelines of safety procedures.?
This year there are plans to hire tourism police in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. All other districts boast varying numbers of full time T.P.U. officers.
Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
The Tourism Police undergo the same training as regular police officers plus additional training in tourism related subjects.
