ACP Broaster Supports Implementation of Curfew for Minors

Edward Broaster

As we’ve reported, the suspects in many of the recent crimes in the Belize District are minors and the three regional commanders of the Eastern Division are actively looking at this trend. In south side Belize City, ACP Chester Williams has implemented a curfew to mitigate crime by minors. Today, ACP Edward Broaster gave his support to the new measures put in place by Williams in the city. 

ACP Edward Broaster, Regional Commander, Rural Eastern Division

“One of the reasons we have analyzed why minors are being utilized to commit crimes now is because the more seasoned criminals know that the police have out their patrol and we have effective patrol going. So they know the likelihood of being caught is higher. So they set up these young people to go and commit the crime, hoping that they escape and getaway, but if they don’t, that they won’t be going to the big prison; they will be going to the Wagner’s Facility or the youth hostel. So I want to join in the commander for South in advising parents to keep their children close to them and monitor their children because the gangs are using them to commit these crimes because they can’t go and do it themselves because of the effective patrol policies that are in place—not only in Rural and South, but also in the North Eastern Division. So parents need to corral their kids and put them close to them.”

Reporter

“So you would endorse the Belize City curfew, spearheaded by Mister Williams?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“I agree with what Mister Williams is doing; it is high time now for us to deal with our children because if we don’t deal with the children, we will have this same cycle repeating itself again. And there has to be a cutoff point. And if we want to cutoff the way things are going in the city and this country, we have to start with the kids and we have to protect the kids and that is a form of protecting the children.”