ComPol Speaks on Policing During the SOE

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that it is not easier policing during the state of emergency than it is under normal circumstances. He says that it is actually more challenging because the cops have to ensure that the S.O.E. regulations are being complied with and carry out their regular policing duties at the same time. Today, he told the press that the police department is not using the curfew to suppress crime. Williams points out that opportunities for crimes to be committed still exist.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Policing at this time is extremely stressful, it is extremely difficult and it does require the police to exercise that balancing act as you said. We have to look at the people right to move freely across the country; their right to engage in their own private social activity and balancing that with the state of emergency regulations that have certain restrictions but while we have to look at both of them, we still have to ensure that whatever is done that people do understand that even though we have gone for so many days without a case, we are still not in an all clear and we have to be cognizant of the fact of what exists around us. The loosening up of the measures for the state of emergency, we have no issue with it. We do have our crime fighting strategy in place and you would know that before the SOE most of our heinous crimes were being committed before eight p.m. So, for those who want to think that the curfew is what the police are using to contain crime, I say no to them. The potential for crime to be committed is still there because many of the measures have been loose and stores are open, many of the business places are still open and people can move more freely between five a.m. and eight p.m. and so the potential for crime is still there. But the effort for the police in terms of the crime fighting strategy is working and that is what is basically containing the crime at this time and we intend to continue to do so. Because while they police the state of emergency regulations, we can’t take our eyes off enforcing the other aspect of our work which is to ensure that law and order is maintained from those persons who would normally have that criminal propensity and in so doing, we are doing a good job.”