The Castries City Police (formerly known as the Castries Constabulary) reports ongoing success in upholding the nation’s laws, expanding their role beyond merely policing the properties of the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) throughout the growing city, which now encompasses three additional constituencies.
City Police Chief, Inspector Yone Camcthon, says officers are better charged with more responsibilities to uphold and enforce the Laws of Saint Lucia,” like every member of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF)”, in each of the four constituencies represented by the CCC: Castries Central, Castries North, Castries East and Castries South.
Camcthon told The VOICE that with their expanded mandate beyond the boundaries of the city’s center, City Police officers have now been proffering more charges in the courts.
He explained, “This week, for example, we have several cases being heard, including matters like Assault, Loitering, Threatening, Resisting Arrest, Damage to Property, Obscene Language, Assaulting (of a Visitor) and Possession of Dangerous Weapons.”
“We are more active in the courts today in pursuing lawbreakers over a wider area, and with more and better equipment,” he added.
The inspector noted “drastic improvement” to the City Police’s work as “we can uphold our laws like police officers, with body cams and radios, four motorcycles and two pickups made available to us…”
He said the City Police is also expecting another two ATVs to better patrol Castries hotspots “and now we’re also better-equipped at training in Data Management, and as a result of a Refreshers Course recently done by the Office of the Commissioner of Police.”
The previous Castries Constabulary only patrolled CCC properties like Derek Walcott Square, the Mayor and City Council, the Castries City Auditorium, George V Park and others, but since their promotion to City Police and given the necessary resources, the inspector says, “it’s made a fundamental difference in our work in and around the City of Castries.