Last Updated on January 10, 2020, 10:17 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy highlighted the successes of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) in 2019, during the New Year’s Celebration Service on January 9 at the NEMA Headquarters.
Brandy informed that there were twelve homicides at the end of 2019, which represented an astonishing 48% reduction when compared to 2018. Additionally, there was an impressive 28% reduction in overall crime incidents.
He further disclosed that there is a record-breaking 47 guns were removed from the streets so far.
Hilroy said that the police had seized 136 kilograms of cocaine, which is considered as one of the largest drug recoveries in the history of St Kitts and Nevis.
He said that the community policing efforts has also got significant results as several departments engaged with the community in a structured manner.
Brandy mentioned the efforts of the police’s social partners, noting that they were remarkable in 2019.
He said that RSCNP’s mobile fleet was significantly upgraded with the donation of twelve police cars and they got the resources they needed to begin the second phase of the CCTV project.
Commissioner Brandy stated that in 2019, Districts ‘A’ and ‘B’ were able to come together to host the first-ever awards ceremony for Police Officers.
2019 also saw the launch of the Crime Management System, thanks to the Force’s collaboration with USAID and the UNDP.
Additionally, said the commissioner, in keeping with its one Caribbean mentality and its commitment to assist its brothers and sisters in the region, the RSCNPF was able to send officers to the Bahamas during its time of need following the passage of Hurricane Dorian and to respond to Dominica’s request for additional support during the country’s General Elections.
The commissioner made special mention of the promotional activities over the past year, which are integral to the force.
“We have seen tremendous growth on our social media platforms. People are hearing more about us and what we are doing,” he said. “In 2019, for the first time, our radio programme ‘Policing With You’ began airing on ZIZ Television, not once, but twice per week. I must express how pleased I am with the structure of the programme, the wide variety of guests and topics, as well as the increase in participation by callers. The feedback for ‘Policing With You’ has been quite positive and has come from various levels.”
As 2020 commenced with the culmination of carnival and Christmas activities, Commissioner Brandy applauded the officers for their dedication and professionalism during the season. He added that they did an outstanding job.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
