Police Department Focuses on Quality of Life Offences

Douglas Hyde

On Monday night, we told you about an initiative organized by Regional South Commander for the Eastern Division of the Police Department in the Mayflower Street area. That area, which includes Ebony Street, Lakeview, Mayflower Street and Banak, has quickly become a problem area in the south side of Belize City due to internal gang rivalry. In an effort to control gang activity, the department is focusing on what is known as Quality of Life offenses. PR Coordinator for the Department, Douglas Hyde, told us more.

Douglas Hyde, PR Coordinator, Belize City Police

“The officer commanding eastern police division south, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams, last week Friday gave a directive to all senior officers specifically precincts one and two as a reminder and also an encouragement to the general public, we will enforce the law when it comes to loitering and public drinking. We’ve seen for the most part of this year, the first six months, a lot of the shootings, incidents of crime, have been targeted at persons loitering at the corner of streets or those in front of stores public drinking, especially having bottles in their hands. So we are sending a key reminder to the general public as encouragement. Please, our police officers will warn you, but they also have the discretion likewise to arrest and charge you likewise and we people to please work with us because we have seen how this has become a serious concern for the general public when nuisance of noise, broken bottles and persons just being out at the corner of the lanes late at night not being productive. And so the police officers will address this and we ask the general public to work with us on this.”

Duane Moody

“So enforcement of quality of life crimes?”

Douglas Hyde

“Quality of life offenses such as the loitering and the public drinking.”