‘No tolerance policy’ to deal with gun violence – AG

In a swift response to the recent spike gun violence in the country, Attorney General Dale Marshall has declared that “extraordinary resources” have been made available to the members of the Royal Barbados Police Force in order to fight crime.

With the island reporting three gun-related deaths and 11 shootings as of Thursday January 17, Marshall said the Government was adopting a “no tolerance policy” in dealing with gun violence.

Marshall was speaking  a press conference this morning at the police Roebuck Street headquarters.

Flanked by the top brass of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force, Marshall revealed his plans to tackle the gun-related crime.

The delegation spoke with the press before embarking on a tour of New Orleans and Chapman Lane, The City, which were designated as hot spots for criminal activity.

Aside from the extraordinary resources [which he did not go into detail about], Marshall revealed that the RBPF will be conducting joint patrols with the Barbados Defense Force, and his Ministry will be partnering with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and the Customs and Excise Department to ensure that the ports of entry are heavily guarded and in-depth searches conducted.

Marshall disclosed that the Ministry has purchased two new container scanners to assist with searches and one of the port’s container scanners which was being repaired will be fixed by February.

“The upsurge in gun violence is now a scourge in our landscape and these gun-wielding bullies are bullying our community into a state of paralysis and all of the hard fought gains that we have made as an administration in the last few months in terms of attracting major enterprise into Barbados, attracting investment to turn on the economy can all be lost through the lawlessness of a few members of our society,” Marshall contended.

“I am distressed and angry that these lawless men would dare to fire on police when they are doing their patrols,” he said in relation to Thursday night’s incident where police officers were in the area of Chapman Lane, New Orleans and Murphy’s Pasture were they came under fire from persons hanging out in the district.

Marshall also sought to assure the public all offenders  involved in these incidents will feel the weight of the law. He disclosed that two criminal judges have been appointed and two new court rooms have been created at the Supreme Court to assist in the backlog of cases. The Attorney General said that he will be going to Parliament to request the appointment of new judges.

“I believe the courts and the judicial system are going to punish all wrongdoers and I could care less who he or she may be. If they are doing wrong I will expect the commissioner and his staff to bring the full weight of the law against them. No small man in Eagle Hall brings in containers,” Marshall reasoned.

“We are going after the business community as well. If they are being used unwittingly it has to be stopped, if they are participating in it willingly, that has to come to an end,” he added. (KK)