PHILIPSBURG--Local Chief of Police Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards said Tuesday that St. Maarten should expect more police and greater visibility of officers soon.Police are considering enhancing neighbourhood policing and increasing the number of officers by more than 75 per cent to counter the surging crime rate on the island.
"Our Police Force has to continue to employ a diverse and effective set of crime-fighting strategies to accomplish the mission of keeping our communities safe," Richards was quoted as saying in a Government Information Service (GIS) press statement. "Innovative policing has resulted in the apprehension of murderous criminals during the past months."
He said improvements within the Police Force were necessary to ensure that St. Maarten could function as an autonomous country.
"The Police Force finds itself at a crucial juncture," Richards said. "I express deep appreciation to the personnel and management of the Police Force who, notwithstanding the challenging times and the lack of resources, have upheld the basic tenets to protect and serve their community."
The police hope to raise their numbers from 205 to 384 by slowly adding new officers to the ranks. The Police Force also has hired four Dutch experts who will help "to transform the law enforcement body into a more professional institution," Richards said. They are scheduled to start in early April.
A quick-response motorcycle team for district policing is one option. Police are also training their senior officers to better equip them to handle crime on the island. The new Police Holding Cell Complex is expected to be completed in April and the Simpson Bay station's holding area for undocumented migrants should be ready by the end of the year. It will have space for 40 men and 20 women.
Police are also increasing their fleet of vehicles. They plan to obtain eight transport buses, 12 motorcycles and five cars in the coming month. A communication plan is being drafted to improve internal and external information dissemination.
"At this time I would like to recognize the contributions being made by, among others, community councils, the Crime Task Force and concerned citizens offering tangible solutions to deal with the crime situation on the island," Richards said. "The business sector has to continue to be proactive by taking preventive measures. Fighting crime is, after all, a community effort, and everybody has a role to play."
