CP Enville Williams expresses concern over rising crime rate in SVG

Acting Commissioner of Police Enville Williams issued a statement on the 3rd of January, 2024, in an attempt to highlight the rising rate of crimes in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caribbean nation registered 55 cases of homicide in 2023, the highest figure recorded in the country’s recent history.

This has led to the propagation of a perception that St Vincent and the Grenadines is becoming an increasingly more dangerous country to reside in, which is obviously not ideal for the nation.

Add to that the fact that St Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded a 1.5% increase in criminal offences in 2023, with 4,133 reports of criminal offences, and one can assimilate why the issue is being taken so seriously by the authorities.

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has decided to resolve the problem by initiating a training program for its personnel, which will be conducted by an experienced and decorated homicide detective from the United Kingdom.

The foreign detective is meant to “bring the necessary training and knowledge base to our investigators to equip them to deal with complex offences that we have started seeing.”

This is an important step for the Police Force as it is in dire need of individuals who have the expertise and the experience to tackle difficult cases, which often require specialized skill sets.

One of the most prevalent issues in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has directly contributed to the increased crime rate, is the availability of illegal guns. The RSVGPF is cognizant of these guns being offered to criminal elements in the nation and has taken steps to mitigate their effect.

As a result of the efforts of RSVGPF, 29 illegal firearms and 290 rounds of ammunition have been ceased and taken out of circulation.

The authorities have also introduced an interesting concept called a ‘gun amnesty’ which will apply to all the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines for a span of ninety days, beginning in May.

Under the remit of this initiative, individuals will have the option of surrendering their illegal firearms and ammunition without the fear of being prosecuted.

This step is being received quite positively, both at the social and political level, as it allows individuals to hand over their guns in a safe and secure manner and offers them the chance to step away from a life of crime and despair.

To ensure that the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines can make use of this facility to the fullest, the police is expected to conduct multiple community meetings to create awareness regarding the amnesty and urge citizens to participate in the program in a meaningful manner for the betterment of the nation and all of its citizens.

Williams was adamant that the Police Force is quite serious about resolving the issue surrounding the increased crime rate and is taking each and every case seriously. He also explained that the RSVGPF is fully committed to taking the steps necessary to bring St Vincent and the Grenadines back to being the peaceful and secure nation it has always been known to be.

Many citizens have appreciated the efforts being made by the authorities to control the problem of violent crimes by taking pre-emptive measures before the situation becomes untenable.

It is also necessary for the nation to maintain its image of being a safe and secure destination for the thousands of tourists who flock to the nation’s shores during the holiday and cruise seasons.

Since St Vincent and the Grenadines is highly dependent on its tourism industry, it can’t afford to be seen as a nation which is unable to ensure the security of tourists and its citizens.

Thus, the RSVGPF is taking important steps to handle the issue as it must before the situation spirals out of control.