Curfew and Crime

Chester Williams

While the regulations of the state of emergency have been relaxed, the curfew remains in effect. From Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, the curfew begins at eight o’clock. An additional hour is given to the public on Friday and Saturday nights with the curfew kicking in at nine o’clock. Because the number of COVID-19 cases has been controlled, some are calling for the curfew to be lifted. There are others who assert that the curfew has been kept in place to keep the crime rate low during these pandemic times.  Today, we asked Commissioner of Police Chester Williams about the assertion and this is how he responded.

Hipolito Novelo

“In terms of the curfew, a lot of people have been saying, what is the reason for the curfew? They are saying the reason for still holding on the curfew is to maintain a low crime rate during this time.”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Hipolito, stop your fool, you and whoever are saying that. I have said over and over and as astute reporter as you are because you have won an award for reporting, you will know most of our major crimes were committed before the curfew hours we currently have. The curfew is not being used as a means to suppress crime. The government and the Oversight Committee in their wisdom saw the need to maintain the curfew and so they did. Let me say that for those persons who may be naive to think that policing can stop all crime from occurring. Nowhere in the world there is no crime. Everywhere you care, no care how effective the police is there is crime. Not everything will the police be able to prevent but those things we can prevent we continue to do and we are going to continue to do that to ensure our citizens are safe.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Do you see the curfew lasting to the end of the year?”

Chester Williams

“That is a matter for the Oversight Committee to decide.”