Major crime trending down in Hanover — Beeput
THE TOP leadership of the Hanover Police division said based on their 2018 crime statistics to date, the parish is now seeing a downturn in major crimes in comparison to the corresponding period last year.
In an address at a community meeting in the Hopewell community last weekend, Superintendent Sharon Beeput, the parish’s commanding officer, pointed out that in the areas of shootings and murder, t he situation is in a better state than last year. “Since the start of the year, we have nine murders in Hanover in comparison to 17 over a similar period last year,” said Beeput, in expressing a measure of satisfaction for the 47 per cent reduction in murders and 50 per cent in shootings since the start of the year.
“Our objectives for this year is to have a reduction in murders and shootings. Whatever we can do to reduce the crime rate, we will be working hard at it,” added the commanding officer.
However, Beeput pointed out that despite the efforts of the police, there has been an increase in rape and robberies, with five robberies committed since the start of the year in comparison to one over the similar period in 2017. She said while there were no reported cases of rape last year, the parish has had one so far this year.
DIVIDED INTO ZONES
In speaking to some of the policing strategies adopted to curtail criminal activities n the parish, she noted that the parish has been divided into police zones for proper monitoring.
“We have from zone one to zone three. Zone one is inclusive of Lucea and Sandy Bay, zone two is Ramble and zone three is inclusive of Green Island and
“Whatever we can do, we have to do it to reduce the gang activity”
Kingsvale,” said Beeput. “We have a supervisor who is in charge of these special zones to give us a feedback and make sure that these areas are kept safe.”
Beeput listed gang activity and lottery scamming as the main contributors to criminal activity in Hanover, adding that, “Whatever we can do, we have to do it to reduce the gang activity”.
FOUR ACTIVE GANGS
She pointed out that there are still four active gangs in the eastern section of the parish, who are using the proceeds of lottery scamming to finance their illegal activities.
In her drive to put community policing on the parish’s radar, Beeput praised the support she has been getting from the residents.
“I always like to be a part of the community, I have been going around and this is what is giving us the results that we want,” said Beeput. “As police officers, we cannot live too far from the community ... we have to communicate with you, because you are the persons who can help us to have the reduction that we are aiming for.”