COGNIZANT of the dangers posed by gang-related homicides, law enforcement officers are implementing specific strategies to deal with these matters, in a manner like other murder case.
Commissioner of Police (Ag.) Verne Guard states that each homicide incident concerns the police and has to be dealt with thoroughly.
Gang feuds involving young people have escalated over the years, resulting in mayhem on the streets and communities across the country. The issue of gun violence also comes into play.
The acting commissioner noted that there is no differentiation in the homicide incidents involving gang fights, as compared to other deadly violent acts. Police reported that gang-related homicides account for at least 28 incidents from the overall figure of 70 killings for the year.
“The issue of gangs is properly catalogued by the police …and we are aware of some of the more established groups,” Guard told reporters, at a recent media briefing.
He said the killing of any citizen in the country “is a notable and very serious issue for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”
Guard stated that the force does not categorize the killings committed, since each incident necessitates “a serious approach by law enforcement officers …but there are notably significant challenges with homicides among the more organised groups.”
The Homicide Analysis including Victim Profile indicates the majority of victims were in the 18 to 30, and 31 to 40 age groups, and were predominantly male (63) as compared to females (4).
Police report making inroads to confiscate illegal guns in the country with stats revealing that illegal firearms (72) along with 1318 rounds of various calibers were recovered by Law Enforcement, for the year, so far.
Furthermore, law enforcement solved 215 cases of firearm-related crime out of 284 cases, achieving a higher detection rate of 76%, compared to last year.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for the Central Division Luke Defreitas notes that the police have worked out a detection rate of about 33%, in conducting their investigations over the past five years. He said the statistics over the past four years revealed a figure ranging from about 70 homicides or more during that period.
He added that the highest detection rate would have been in 2023 “around the 40% mark…and this year, having solved some of these cases from last year would have brought up the statistics somewhat.”
Defreitas reiterated that the police force has embarked on some new initiatives. One of these involves merging three units, the Bicycle Patrol Unit, the Community Relations Branch, and the Press Office, into a Community Policing Unit.
“That approach would be one …of what we term ‘softer approaches’ to complement the more robust operations that we continue to mount daily,” he explained.
Noting that gang-related crime has been reduced in the southern district, Superintendent Albert Charlery stated that law enforcement officers have been implementing internal procedures and community engagements as part of their operations.
He said the police have been making a concerted effort to be “physically present” in the public sphere, as “our mission is to provide quality service.”
The superintendent added, “This physical presence …allows us to engage the public as much as possible. We don’t only do the one-on-one with individuals but we also do the Town Hall meetings.”
He said the southern branch also works with other groups, such as concerned citizens, the SEEDS Project in Vieux Fort, and other government departments. The revival of the Senior Games has also been part of the community outreach measures employed to restore stability and social order in the community.
Supt. Charlery said the community engagements afford the police an opportunity to interact with residents, schools, and business owners within the community.
“It is an opportunity for us to share with them what we have (and) and what is affecting us, and likewise to allow them to tell us what is happening with them,” he asserted.