Police prepare for long weekend
If you’re watching this newscast at home right now, it probably means that you’re in the minority of Belizeans who have chosen not to head out of town for the long Easter holiday weekend. And while thousands of Belizeans will spend the next four days either at the cayes or some relaxing spot inland, one group of people who won’t get that luxury is the police. They will be out in full force working with the community to try and ensure as crime free a celebration as possible. Officer commanding the police Traffic Branch, Assistant Superintendent Francis Williams, says while highway patrols will be stepped up, the motoring public can do its share to ensure road safety.
ASP Francis Williams, Head of Traffic Department
?Definitely the drivers out there, one of the things to stay safe is to ensure that they drive within the prescribed speed limit along the highways and restrain themselves from drinking and driving. If they do wish to do any kind of drinking, well they should have a designated driver who is a non-drinker on board that vehicle to assign whenever they want to recreate.?
Patrick Jones
?Will the police be doing any special operations over the Easter holidays??
ASP Francis Williams
?Well we wouldn?t call it a special operation. We just call it a routine traffic highway patrols along both highways in the Belize District, which extends up to La Democracia area and beyond the Crooked Tree junction. We will have our highway patrols along both highways throughout this holiday season starting very early in the morning and continue until later part of the evening of each holidays.?
Patrick Jones
?What will your officers be looking for while on these patrols??
ASP Francis Williams
?They will be looking out for drivers who are speeding along the highways, which is one of the main causes of accidents, drinking and driving, they will also be dealing with other traffic related offences such as driving without their insurance, drivers license, over loading and so on.?
Williams reminds viewers that on Holy Saturday, the Western Highway leading out of Belize City will be closed for a period of time to facilitate the start of the cross country cycle race. The specific time for the closure will be announced on radio by the police press office between now and Saturday morning.
And while traffic officers will be patrolling the highways, their counterparts in the city will also be busy trying to keep burglars in check. Officer in Charge of Community Policing, Inspector Diana Hall, offers some safety tips that will help to ensure that your holiday is not spoiled by criminals.
Inspector Diana Hall, OIC, Community Policing
?The must ensure that their homes are properly secured. Tell neighbour or friend, make sure they don?t leave any appliance on such as iron, and this is important when we go to try and promote neighbourhood watch, you can?t be selfish in times like these.?
Patrick Jones
?Now when people leave their homes, that?s a perfect time for the crooks and criminals to come out and prey. Is there anything that I can do as a home owner to try and ward them off??
Inspector Diana Hall
?Yes, you probably could leave your lights on, leave a radio on in your house. And we will be having extra patrols during this holiday and also the 911 and the 922 will be available.?
Patrick Jones
?Now you say leave a light on, leave a radio playing. Don?t you think that the criminals have wised up that this is what people do??
Inspector Diana Hall
?I know they have wised up but it?s still a good suggestion.?
?And I would also like to mention, we know it is hot and people take opportunity to go and swim. We want to advise the parents out there not to send their children with friends, because this is the time when we have drowning. So we advise them, if you are going, take your child and pay keen attention to them.?
Apart from the police emergency 911, ambulance and fire service can be reached by dialling 90 from any telephone.
