Published 16 May 2023
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St Kitts Nevis News Source
STATEMENT by COP JAMES SUTTON
Citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis, good day to you all.
I make this address today to update the Federation on matters
germane to the law enforcement efforts of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to date. Since being appointed
to the position of Commissioner of Police in February of this year, my High Command and I have executed a number of operations
and operational changes throughout the Police Force. With this
presentation, I aim to provide the general public with some
additional insight into our performance thus far for the year 2023.
Though we are only in the second quarter of the year, it has been
an eventful five-months for the Police Force, to say the least. In an
effort to reduce the incidences of criminal activity in the
Federation, we saw it prudent to formulate “Operation
Reassurance” and launch it on April 4th. The following statistics are
testimony to the operation’s successes we have since then
recorded:
- Search warrants executed: 42
- Mobile patrols: 143
- Foot patrols: 143
- Number of arrests: 14
- Number of firearms recovered: 6
- Number of tickets issued: 93
- Number of vehicles searched: 362
- Gang engagements: 7
Our Police officers continue to work assiduously to ensure the
safety and security of our citizens and residents are maintained. Their work in this regard has borne fruit to the tune of four of the
five robberies committed in the month of April having already
been solved. Such was achieved through the diligent work and
dogged determination of our officers in the pursuit of justice. Their
perseverance and stellar work are worthy of high praise. Indeed, even after “Operation Reassurance” would have ended, the
momentum and our thrust to curb crime and violence in St. Kitts
and Nevis will be maintained.
Our community policing model has recently undergone some
administrative changes. These adjustments are aimed at increasing
the overall impact and efficacy of both the model and our
Community Policing Team. One such administrative change was
the assignment of Sgt. Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Sampson as the leader of the
Community Policing Team with specific responsibility for the
Explorer’s Clubs on St. Kitts. These Clubs have been a part of our
national community policing model since 2017. Their presence has
been welcome in the various communities and the positive impact
on our youth cannot be downplayed or ignored. They continue to
provide a safe space for our children to learn, grow, and socialise
while building a relationship of trust and transparency with law
enforcement.
Through the Explorer’s Clubs, many of our children have learnt
numerous skills and games, respect, camaraderie, and the value of
honesty. I, therefore, wish to thank and highly commend former
Community Policing Team leader, Insp. Rosemarie Isles-Williams, for her stellar work in the development and continuity of the
Explorer’s Clubs. Insp. Isles-Williams has been instrumental in
their popularisation in the communities throughout the country. Her sterling contribution to the protection, education, and
empowerment of our youth in this regard cannot go unrecognised.
As law enforcement officers, we continue to collectively and
individually encourage our people to refrain from resorting to
violence as a way to resolve conflict. It does not work – the
evidence and the statistics are there to prove that. In addition to
violence creating more problems that it has ever solved, far too
many of our people are being cut down in their prime. St. Kitts and
Nevis is a small island developing state; our most valuable
resource is our people, our human capital. Nothing happens for our
people without our people. To this end, it behoves us to practice
restraint in times of tension or strife, and seek a resolution that all
parties can live to see.
Each homicide we are called to investigate pains us deeply. As
Police, we have a heavy psychological load to bear that only gets
even heavier each time we are called to the scene of another
homicide. I implore us all to realise that the negative impact of
violence reaches much further than the deceased. We owe it to
ourselves to equip our youth with the tools that will give them the
best chance at a healthy, happy life. That is our responsibility to
ourselves, to our communities, and to our country.
As I close, I wish to reassure the general public that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force will neither falter nor waver in
its commitment to the people. We officers have sworn to protect
one and all; to uphold the law without fear or favour; and to
relentlessly pursue justice for those who have been victims of any
crime. To this end, I remind one and all that it is in our best
interest to say something if we see something. Laws are only as
effective as the people who help to uphold them. Our success as
officers of the law depends heavily on those whom the laws protect. Our duties are clearly defined, but our job’s success is not
guaranteed without the public’s cooperation.
Thank you for your kind attention. Good day.
