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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
January 29 - February 4, 2022
CoP: “We are dedicated to keeping you safe” – reports 2% increase in crime BY DELANA ISLES A recent engagement with the media by the Police Commissioner and the Governor conveyed that they are paying attention to the recent spike in crime and are working to keep residents safe. While that engagement was primarily private, crime statistics and the hard work of his officers were divulged by Commissioner Trevor Botting. “The Turks and Caicos Islands are experiencing another surge in serious crime and it is believed that a relatively small number of violent criminals are putting the people of the TCI in fear, both in their homes and within our communities. “This is a blight on the communities of the TCI, and the Force is working hard to investigate those crimes and identify and arrest those responsible.” Referencing some visible police activities in certain communities around Providenciales, the commission said the force is also actively engaged in a number of covert activities that are supporting the work of its investigators and uniformed teams who are on patrol, carrying out road checks, executing warrants and other proactive policing activity. “This work is producing results, with a number of significant arrests made in the recent past for serious offences, and charges have followed those arrests for offences that relate to home invasions (aggravated burglary), drugs and
Governor Nigel Dakin gun crime.” He said this work will continue with a determination to bring offenders to justice and provide reassurance to communities, but they need the help of the community. “Please tell us anything you know about any crime and you can do this directly to a police station, to any police officer you know or confidentially through Crime Stoppers. However you are comfortable passing information, please just tell us what you know, work with us to help us keep you safe.” HUMAN IMPACT OF CRIME The commissioner also said that his officers are not just motivated by crime figures, they are committed to getting justice for the victims and their loved ones. “I have had personal contact with victims of serious crime this week and I was grateful for their kind words about how well
Police Commissioner Trevor Botting our police officers treated them, but I was equally grateful for the feedback as to how we can improve the service we give when we respond to serious crime.” He added: “I heard from them the details of the terrible experience they suffered but was impressed with their dignity and grace when telling me their experience.” He has urged his officers and the wider community to never forget the human factor involved in serious crimes: “And I would urge the media and our communities to truly understand this because if you really understand the human impact, I believe you will be more inclined to want to get justice for those involved and more inclined to tell my investigators what you know.” CRIME STATISTICS As shared by the commissioner, and for the clear edification of the general public, crimes are recorded in the 12 month period
that coincides with the territory’s budgetary cycle, that is from April 1 to March 31. As such, the police force is now in its fourth quarter (January 1 to March 31, 2022); and as a result the commissioner shared with the media the crime statistics for the prior three quarters, which is from April 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. He reported that from April 2021 to December 2021, there were 1235 crimes, an increase of 24 crimes or two percent compared to the same period in 2020. From April 2021 to December 2021 there were 184 serious crimes, a reduction in 63 crimes or 25% compared to the same period the year before. Specifically, from April 2021 to December 2021 there were 226 burglaries, a reduction of one compared to the same period in 2020. From April 2021 to December 2021 there were 29 aggravated
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burglaries, an increase of four crimes or 16% compared to the same period in 2020. From April 2021 to December 2021 there were 11 murders, a reduction of seven crimes or 39% compared to the same period in 2020. From April 2021 to December 2021 there were 84 firearms offences, an increase of 15 crimes or 22% compared to the same period in 2020. From April 2021 to December 2021 there were 67 robberies, a reduction of 54 crimes or 45% compared to the same period in 2020. Botting pointed out that crime has increased by two percent, or 24 more crimes, compared to last year but there is a significant reduction in serious crime with 63 (25%) less crimes for the first three quarters of the recording year. This, he said, is reflected in the significant reduction in the number of murders, a reduction in the number of burglaries and a large reduction in the number of robberies. “Whilst positive, we of course remain concerned about the increase in aggravated burglaries and firearms offences and we are working hard to drive down the number of crimes in these areas.” The commissioner stated that despite the impact that Covid-19 is having on the Force’s resources, its officers and staff have been committed and resilient in their work to bring offenders to justice. This, he said, is shown through numerous arrests and charges for serious crime. “And the RTCIPF investigations team deserves great credit for the work they have undertaken during this period. “I want to reassure you, our communities, that we are dedicated to keeping you safe.”
