Police Department Gearing Up to Enforce Quarantine Laws

Back to COVID-19…the increase in number of cases has triggered the Belize Police Department to tighten up on the enforcement of quarantine laws. Commissioner of Police Williams says directives have been issued to officers to intensify enforcement of social distancing and the wearing of masks. ComPol Williams also says that an incentive will be issued to the officer who levels the most fines of up to five thousand dollars to persons not wearing the mask.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have seen a significant relaxation on the part of the police in terms of enforcing the law. When you move around in the public, we see a number of persons not wearing masks, we see large gathering like for example the photograph with the water taxi area in Belize City where a number of persons were clustered together and many of them not wearing masks, not social distancing. We are seeing in the night clubs people not wearing masks, not social distancing. We are seeing a lot of social events, people not wearing masks, not practicing social distance. These are things that put our entire nation at risk. And so I sent out a directive to my officers to enforce the law more. As a matter of fact, I am even offering a reward to the police officer who makes the most arrest for not wearing mask or failing to adhere to social distance for the month of August and I’ll try to do that every month. And I think the incentive will serve as a way of motivating the police officers to do more. It is only by doing that, we will be able to have a serious grip on what needs to be done to ensure that we help to prevent the further spread of the virus in the country.”