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PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Dennis Richardson gave Members of Parliament (MPs) updates on the Police's efforts to tackle crime in the community at a Central Committee meeting of Parliament on Monday. The meeting was scheduled to take place last week, but was postponed until yesterday, due to a lack of quorum.
Richardson said the country's crime levels are at a place where other countries in the immediate surrounding will be "jealous of." The police force has been tackling preventable crimes and have been making arrests and getting breaks in large cases. The force has been "very effective" against the "gangs" responsible for robbing the jewellery stores on Front Street and are "hot on the trail" of the bank robbers.
Patrols have increase in high traffic areas as a crime prevention method, he said. However, the downside is the increased patrols result in "a great amount of overtime" for police officers and this puts a burden on the already stretched budget of the ministries.
Joint controls with the French side are expected to be stepped up. The minister will meet in the coming days with the Préfet to iron out a more structured approach to conduct the random joint controls. The two sides of the island have been sharing information about stolen vehicles to aid in recovery and apprehension of thieves. Discussions on the turning in and collection of unlicensed firearms and other weapons are ongoing.
The Justice Ministry is set to launch a security camera project. This NAf. 4 million project spans two years. There are also efforts to bring the private sector on board for an increase of the funds and coverage of the cameras.
Richardson said the ministry will look into working with security companies for their guards to cast a wider net and some training by the police can be provided for suitable candidates.
The ministry's representatives have also met with the banks to guide them on improving safety and security to fend off any more bank robberies.
Focus is on steering youngsters away from criminal activities and guiding those who have had a brush with the law to re-socialize into the community.
Richardson told MPs that the police and the ministry in general is "combating crime on many fronts." He cited the need to complete the upgrade of the Pointe Blanche House of Detention and returning the Simpson Bay holding facility to its intended use of housing undocumented immigrants.
MPs present discussed with the minister a number of topics related the Justice Ministry.
Richardson started out the meeting with an admonishment for MPs and their low attendance at the meeting called to deal with an issue as important as crime and the safety of the community. The country "deserves better" attendance and "attention" to such a hefty issue, he said.
MPs George Pantophlet and Hyacinth Richardson (National Alliance), Dr. Lloyd Richardson (independent) and Romain Laville (independent), and Johan Leonard (United People's Party) were present for the meeting, chaired by President of Parliament MP Gracita Arrindell ((DP)). MPs Roy Marlin (Democratic Party) and Patrick Illidge (independent) were absent with notice.
Arrindell said before closing the meeting that while the minister had his view on the attendance, the Rules of Order of Parliament outline that a Central Committee meeting can take place providing that the majority of fractions in Parliament are represented as was the case for the crime meeting.
