Secure Season
ALL systems have been put in place to ensure the safety of Barbadians and visitors to the island during the 2017 Christmas season, which is already in full swing.
The Royal Barbados Police Force’s (RBPF) comprehensive plan for policing the island at this time of the year, when there is an environment of heightened activity that provides opportunities for criminals to flourish, has already been rolled out.
During a press conference at the RBPF’s Roebuck Street, The City, yesterday, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for crime, Colvin Bishop, stressed that though police will be strategically deployed across the country, members of the public, the business community, and owners of residential properties must play their role in reducing opportunities for victimisation.
“In this regard, we are urging persons to pay a special interest in safeguarding personal and other property. For some time now, we have been concerned with thefts of cellular phones.
“I urge the public to place a tracking device on their phones and also keep the International Mobile Equipment Identity Number of the device in a safe location,” ACP Bishop said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, William Yearwood said that at this time of the year, the Force is occupied with policing the yuletide season, in addition to the tourism season, and also Old Year and New Year-related celebratory activities.
Yearwood reminded that more people will be in Barbados at this time of the year due to the number of cruise ships visiting the island, with an average of four ships bringing thousands of passengers and crew members to the Bridgetown Port every day.
“Together with these areas of policing, we have to maintain coverage in our residential areas, as well as our commercial areas where a lot of shopping will be going on at this time.
“So our deployment is the responsibility of officers in charge of Divisions. So here on, for the balance of the year, you will be seeing more visibility of our law enforcement officers,” Yearwood said. (AH)