EDITORIAL
With Christmas just around the corner, the members of the Royal Barbados Police Force will have to take no chances, and officers will have to make their presence felt on local streets, to deter the criminally minded. Already, we are seeing some brazen criminal activity that will not augur well for us as a nation, as we look to close out this Independence weekend and move straight into the Christmas period.
It is fair to say that most Barbadians will be looking forward to making a smooth transition into the Yuletide season, after celebrating Independence Day, on Monday. The merchants will be eager as well, to usher in this season. However, we must remember that as the merchants put strategies in place to entice shoppers, there is also a criminal element among us, who will be planning as well, but with a somewhat different view in mind. The criminally minded will be devising schemes to relieve shoppers as well as merchants, of their valuables and other prized possessions. Each year we hear of pickpockets and shoplifters, who are using crafty schemes to accomplish their mission, which is stealing. We also hearing now of a number of robberies and bouts of theft, by armed bandits. Shoppers and citizens in general therefore need to remain vigilant during this upcoming festive season and the police force needs to reassure citizens that it can keep crime under control.
Watch out for upsurge in crime
Members of the Force have been hard at work trying to keep crime down for the year. However, given the economic downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and an already worrisome violent crime situation in this country, we need to watch out for an upsurge in crime at this time of year, as the criminal element puts plans into motion as well. Perhaps we may need to see some mobile units set up at strategic points across the country, so that the Force’s presence will be felt at major shopping areas and in key hotspots. Not only will citizens feel a bit more secure, but so will members of the local business community.
Now in the past, the Force has noted that around the Christmas season, loitering, illegal vending and safety on the streets are the biggest issues to contend with and thus, a proactive approach is needed by the police to keep order. And if we revisit a few years prior, it would be seen that the Force stepped up its policing efforts by paying special attention to The City of Bridgetown. Members of the Royal Barbados Police Force were out in their numbers in the island’s shopping capital, clearing sidewalks and doing their best to maintain order on the streets.
This year, it will be even more key, given the present COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens should feel more comfortable traversing too and fro this December, whether for work or leisure, knowing that the Police Force has their interest at heart. So this is the time for us to hear from the Royal Barbados Police Force.