Police Service redoubles efforts to rid streets of illegal weapons

he Barbados Police Service (TBPS) has launched a new intervention programme dubbed SOS Intervention in a bid “to save as many of our sons as possible,” in the aftermath of a recent spate of gun violence that has claimed four lives, the police commissioner has announced.

At a press conference, Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce said officers have been spending “inordinate lengths of time” trying to prevent some of these fatal shootings, with success so far in seizing 27 firearms and 262 rounds of ammunition this year.

Boyce sought to reassure residents that the police force has noted the fear caused in communities by the spike in gun crime and will intensify efforts to arrest this scourge “in a more robust manner going forward”.

“Our intent is to take the firearms out of the hands of those young men and return a state of normality to our various communities, where persons will be able to go about their business, without any hindrances or fear of being harmed,” the police chief vowed.

“Our officers have been working around the clock, 24 hours a day, to root out this firearm problem, especially when there is information that someone’s life is in imminent danger of serious harm or death.”

Boyce told reporters that the increased use of guns within communities has been triggered in recent times, mainly by disputes among people familiar with each other, and not gang rivalry.

“Their preferred manner in resolving disputes,” Commissioner Boyce explained, “is to resort to deadly force by utilising these weapons. The other motive for some of the murders is the desire of these men to acquire gold, specifically jewellery. So, whether chains, bangles or bracelets; items which can be readily converted into cash.”

He pointed out that the actions of the police in safeguarding communities will be multi-faceted and results-oriented.

“Those firearm users will feel the actions of our officers who will be firm, but fair; that is, operating within the confines of the law. There will be high-impact interventions and interactions with these criminal-minded,” the top cop warned.

He also addressed the challenges related to the importation of guns into the country and identified the ongoing measures being adopted by the police to counter this.

“The island of itself is a porous border. When you look at all of the avenues to get into the country. We know we have a very vibrant fishing industry, we have other areas outside of the legalised ports of entry that persons can take advantage of and bring contraband into the island.

Commissioner Boyce added: “We are in constant engagement and constantly working with persons in charge of the legitimate points of entry, airport, seaport, and we continue that relationship. Those persons are important stakeholders for us, and we obtain tremendous support and assistance from those agencies when it comes to firearms and other contraband coming through the port.”

Boyce also called on all law-abiding citizens to partner with the police in dealing with “this obvious threat to our livelihoods, as it relates to gun violence.”

“I am appealing to the families,” the commissioner declared, “and relatives of these lawless persons to speak to these young men, and encourage them to turn away from a life of crime. Don’t wait until a wanted person’s bulletin is published in the media, and then take up your hard-earned money to pay someone to represent your son in the courts, or to run to an airline agency and purchase a plane ticket to fly that wanted person out of the jurisdiction. The time to act is now.”

“I wish to assure the public, that the police service, with other law enforcement agencies, will continue in our efforts, to protect the peace and good order of our community.”

The commissioner also told reporters that there will be a greater police presence in those communities of highest concern.

“Certainly, the visibility of more police officers will be noticeable; and we know the communities which we have to deal with. We do not target communities just because we have the power to go into communities. We act from a platform of information, [and] intelligence, and we are very pointed in what we do in these communities.

“So, we don’t want persons to believe,” Boyce insisted, “that one community would be targeted as opposed to another one…because the accusation could very well be made, that because you come from a very poor community or a community which is not identified as the terrace or the heights…it is nothing like that. We will be fair, but firm and we will act on good information. It will not be a willy-nilly exercise, hoping to find something…a fishing expedition.” (EJ)