Friday, February 9, 2024
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
WEEKS after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said more intrusive policing is coming to curb the murder rate, Deputy Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux said yesterday that the public should expect even more aggressive policing and potential inconveniences.
“It may be inconveniencing for some motorists and some members of the public, but we will not rest until we address this crime issue,” he said.
Asked about the prime minister’s warning of more intrusive policing last month, he said: “It’s gonna even go further than that.”
He declined to give details but said: “We even gone up on the intelligence-led policing. You’re gonna see a number of things. Many of those I cannot reveal to the public. I can tell you, I can assure you, the Bahamian people will be very pleased with the aggressive way we will police this country.”
Mr Deleveaux, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a Rotary Club of West Nassau meeting, said murder is the only crime that is up.
“Of course, that’s very little consolation to the public,” he said.
Twenty-five people have been killed in 2024, one of the deadliest starts to a year in the country’s history.
Warnings of aggressive policing worry some people who are concerned that police officers often lack proper oversight and accountability.
Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard said last month that civil liberties and human rights could be threatened by intrusive policing.
Mr Deleveaux, who is responsible for disciplinary matters in the force, said: “We are your police officers. We’re here to serve the public. We are here to ensure that the public is safe. If a police officer runs afoul of the law, he breaks the law in the execution of his duties, then we will deal with that police officer.
“As you know just a couple of days ago, we dealt with a police officer where we placed him before the courts for allegedly causing grievous harm, causing harm to a member of the public so we have no issues with dealing with police officers in the same breath.
“We must caution members of the public who sometimes fabricate stories against police officers. We have a way to dealing with those persons also.”
During his address to the Rotary Club, Mr Deleveaux said police found that most murders are due to gang-related offences or drugs.
He said police have identified the gang leaders.
“We have put a strategy in place, which I do not wish to discuss at this time,” he said. “At the appropriate time, the commissioner will address a strategy that has been put in place.
“We know who they are.”
Comments
bobby2 says...
Lots of talk, lets see some real action & progress!
Posted 9 February 2024, 10:54 a.m. Suggest removal
ted4bz says...
The best response to this is, that's OK leave it, no thank you. Otherwise, it's going to be the same result as the lockdowns, when it ended we ended up with all this, and smothered with inflation. Do not ask these people to do anything, they're so distracted with their own affairs that they don't find the time to think things through. After they're done, it will only get worse, so leave it alone.
Posted 9 February 2024, 3:16 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
Hot air also causes smoke ( sometimes). Firstly, the police force seems to be as disjointed about crime as the (( PLP) government that is (supposedly) running the country. The police are saying they have identified the gangs and individuals who are responsible for the recent spate of murders and crime. And they have devised a specific plan and strategy ( that they will not divulge at this time and that is reasonable position for them to have) to deal with them CRIMINALS.Then now they ( the police) come again and say the ( innocent and those citizens not involved in crime should expect more aggressive ( yes maybe) and intrusive policing. ( hell no) To this we say hell no! No, not again! It’s like the police is going to Andros looking for snow ( no not the cocaine kind) when it doesn’t snow ( the cold, wet one) in Andros or The Bahamas. The point is clearly: the Bahamian public is not prepared to allow you to intrude on their rights any further under the guise of fighting crime and especially if there is not sufficient results to warrant giving up their rights any further . Don’t be like the Tribune , paying allegiance to two shysters and their ‘go fund me scam’ and ignoring most of the facts, when these shysters have caused more damage to the Bahamas and to The Bahamian people than they can ever pay back even if they have two life times with what is now proving to be false accusations. Wayne Munroe and the COP and the entire police force: y’all mandate is to fight crime and keep Bahamians and everyone else in this country safe. Your mandate is NOT to treat every Bahamian ( because is only us set) like criminals and fritter away our privileges. Include the Bahamian public in the crime fighting strategy and stop treat us like insurgents.., especially the young men in particular, who are under seige and the innocent ones are even more affected than the average citizens.
Posted 9 February 2024, 3:21 p.m. Suggest removal
Engineer says...
The problem is not with policing, the problem stems from our younger generation growing up with little guidance and 'brought upsy' by parents and community.
The police are the last checkpoint when it is really too late.
Community and family need to focus and help make a difference.
It takes a family and community to raise a child!!!
Posted 9 February 2024, 6:34 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**You just couldn't make it up.** --- 'Twas yesterday they let go with [never suspected] --- Reassuring confidence [engineered?[ news that [indeed[ The Colony's Royal Policemans' Force, has linked someone [actually responsible for disciplinary matters] ---- In Deputy Commish of Policemans'. Comrade" ["Disciplinarian"] Leamond Deleveaux. --- Yes?
Posted 9 February 2024, 7:27 p.m. Suggest removal
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