We Must Help Police Protect And Keep Us Safe and Well

Last month’s serious crime statistics showed a significant decrease of 48 per cent compared to the same period last year. This happened during the lockdown and curfew. It can also be attributed to increased Police vigilance. The curfew and lockdown restricted movements and travel and deterred the criminal elements to strike.

The Police say serious crime includes rape, attempted rape, defilement, murder, aggravated robbery, burglary, arson and theft of motor vehicle. There were 146 cases reported in comparison to 282 for the 2019 period.

Other positive features include the drop in crime against women and children and a decrease in road fatalities.

Crime against women was down by 13 per cent. There were 217 reports while there were 250 cases in 2019. 28 per cent or 61 cases were domestic violence related.

Crime against children also declined by 51 per cent. - 45 cases were reported compared to 92 for the same period last year.

The road death toll decreased by 50 per cent. Overall, Police say, crime statistics for the month of April saw an overall increase in crime by 51 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2019.

There were 2176 cases recorded in 2020 compared to 1440 in 2019 and this was largely due to the high number of failure to comply with orders arrests linked to COVID-19 breaches.

While we have expressed our disdain about the breaches, highlighting their serious implications on our health and safety, we are heartened by the drop in serious crime.

Before we jump to any conclusion we need to look at the situation objectively. We must accept that the COVID-19 restrictions have contributed in a major way in the drop in serious crime. At the same time they have exposed what appears to be an inherent weakness.

It exists in a minority group.

Those who belong to it are set in their ways and take a lackadaisical view about life and change like curfew and lockdown. It’s an attitude thing and should not be mistaken with culture.

Those who uphold their cultural values will comply with the law and respect authority.

Those who don’t, have contributed to the rise in overall crime.

Police must be commended for their continued operations to stamp out the illicit Drug trade.

As a result the number of drug cases registered jumped by 200 per cent compared to the same period last year.

As they fight crime, Police need our help to keep us and our families safe from those that bring harm to us.