Statistically speaking, police say crime rate decreased
The Crime statistics for the period January to August fifteenth have been released. While the records show that major crimes decreased compared to the same period in 2008, the numbers are startling and they put Belize on the international charts. The police account is that crime decreased by nine percent. At August fifteenth, murders stood at sixty and there was an increase in the cases of Aggravated Assault. In the Belize District alone, there were nine hundred and twenty-eight crime cases. Commissioner of Police met with the media this afternoon to share the information.
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
“It would appear that we are seeing an increase in some of the petty crimes, the offences, the assault, the harm and woundings and these collectively add to the overall total. But when you look at burglaries for the last three months, when you look at robberies, carnal knowledge, murders; they’ve gone down considerably to the previous years.”
Marion Ali
“When you look at murders though and the ever increasing or growing in terms of its popularity, the home invasions, they also draw a lot of attention if you compare it to other countries in the Caribbean.”
Crispin Jeffries
“Not only to the other Caribbean countries, in fact it is a problem, a phenomenon sweeping the region and the world. It is delicate to make certain comments and not be educating people on certain things on crime. So I wouldn’t want to make the type of comparison here on camera and then it is used to say that you are educating criminals. But the reality is that home invasion is a problem, we are seeing it on the increase and we are targeting the offenders. We’ve arrested quite a few persons and we believe that some of the other consequential incidents are as a result of home invasions. In other words persons have reacted and actions have been taken.”
Marion Ali
“When you took over the reins of the department, you sounded or it came across as a rather strict, stern Mr. Jeffries. No nonsense fellow who will be clocking down on officers, hitting the streets, having more police presence and really targeting the criminals out there but yet some of your critics would say Jeffries noh di mek no difference, crime is still on the same pace and even in some areas you have an increase of some crimes.”
Crispin Jeffries
“I don’t think the critics are totally correct. The incidents of crime in Belize City have significantly decreased because of extra hours by officers from Belize City, we’ve never stopped increase of manpower in Belmopan, we’ve used different methods to target those who we know are the offenders and that’s the reason why there is a reduction in robberies, burglaries and the major crimes.”
Jeffries says home invasions have become more prevalent particularly on the south side and more so in the Saint Martin de Porres area of Belize City. Meanwhile, some of the challenges in fighting crime for the police are experienced along the sub-urban areas of Ladyville, Mahogany Heights and Hattieville which all have to share vehicles and manpower. Jeffries also re-introduced a media policy which the Department plans to utilize when disseminating news to the media.
