Online poll shows viewers support anti-crime legislation

With the rise of urban warfare, particularly in Belize City Streets, Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting dealt extensively on crime and security issues. It was agreed that three legislative changes will be introduced at the next sitting of the House of Representatives. But two of those changes are controversial because one allows for preventative detention of persons suspected of having criminal intentions and other provides for trial by judge alone. We asked our viewers if they support the proposed draconian measures as a means to tackle crime. Sixty-seven percent of voters said yes while thirty-three percent said no. One viewer commented that; “They only sound draconian but desperate times call for desperate measures to correct the ills that have befallen us”. Meanwhile, another person condemned the proposed legislation saying that; “Innocent people will be caught in this irresponsible law. If my grandmother is believed to have intent to commit crime, she’ll be arrested. People with different political opinions can be victimized through this medium.”