STEPPING UP CHECKS

BARBADIANS have been put on notice to look out for more stop and search exercises being carried out by members of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).
With the major events for the 2017 Crop Over season approaching, and an evident increase in crime across the island, the RBPF will be stepping up security checks on the streets.

Speaking during a press conference, held at the RBPF’s Roebuck Street, The City, headquarters, yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Tyrone Griffith, said the Force will be putting more officers on the streets.

Furthermore, the Force’s intelligence sources will also be put to use “to ensure that we are aware of what is likely to happen out there”.

“We are going to be asking members of the public to co-operate more fully with the law enforcement as more officers will be conducting operations at this time, along with the regular event planning.

“You might find yourself being detained at some points, but it is all for your good. So, we are asking Barbadians to support us at this time, given the difficulties that one can expect,” Griffith said.

The Commissioner, along with Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, hosted the press conference to speak to the public about the crime situation across the island, particularly those that are gun-related.

Griffith said, while 19 murders had been committed for the year thus far, the reality stands that illegal firearms were the weapons to carry out the unlawful acts.
He once again stressed the need for authorities working at the ports of entry to assist in the fight to stop illegal firearms from coming into the country, but noted that the Force is wasting no time, in regards to carrying out regular checks on the streets.

“As I suggested, there will be more stop and searches exercises being done. More planned operations which will be given by intelligence.

“Generally, we are asking all officers to be on the alert as they are on duty and to look out for possible suspects in relation to those moving around with firearms,” Griffith said.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General maintained that Barbados, notwithstanding the fact that officials are concerned about the level of gun related violence, “remains a very safe country to live, work and play”.

“During the next couple of weeks, because we know that we are going to have an influx of visitors, we are going to ensure that in the next few weeks, that we ‘up de ting’ in terms of our security apparatus so that the country will be even safer at this time.

“As the Commissioner correctly said, if it means, more inconvenience for the general public, then that’s the cost of us all being safe. So we need everyone’s co-operation here,” the Attorney General said.

Commissioner Griffith also urged members of the public to be vigilant when moving around the island, especially when conducting transactions at any Automated Teller Machine (ATM).