Crime/Justice

Published 10 April 2017

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 10^th 2017 – Reports of another shooting and robbery in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Kyle Bridgewater was shot in the shoulder, gun-butted and robbed last Saturday afternoon, April 8^th, in the Boyd’s Village community.

One report said Bridgewater and a male companion were walking in hills overlooking Boyd’s Village around 1.30 pm, when they were attacked by heavily armed gunmen, who robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash.

 Bridgewater reportedly received a bullet wound to his shoulder and was transported to the J. N. France General Hospital for treatment of his injury.

 His companion was not hurt.

 Police have confirmed the incident and are carrying out investigations.

 There have been several shooting incidents so far for the year.

On January 4, bread bus driver Kazemel Maynard of St. Paul’s sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and hand in a robbery attempt in the Farm’s Housing Project in Sandy Point, St. Kitts.

 On January 4^th, Carlyle Liddie suffered injuries to his hip, shoulder and abdomen after he was attacked by an unknown gunman in Crab Hill, Sandy Point, St. Kitts.

. On January 6^th, Darren Webster, 25; and Calvert Francis, 20 were attacked by gunmen in the Green Tree Housing Project, St. Kitts.

 January 21^st, a juvenile in the Ms Knight, Basseterre area was shot in the left leg by an unknown gunman.

 March 1^st Jacqueline Buchanan of Sandy Point, St. Kitts, was shot and injured in an arm and hospitalised.

 March 4^th, the home of Jacqueline Buchanan of Sandy Point was riddled with bullets. No injuries reported.

 March 10^th, the Crab Hill residence and vehicle of Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn K. Richards were attacked by gunmen. No injuries but damage to the home and vehicle reported.

 March 30^th – Police fired shots at a would-be burglar who attempted to break into the Pelican Mall, Basseterre.

 April 1^st – A man in Bath Village, Nevis sustained an injury to his leg during an altercation with two unknown assailants.

 St. Kitts and Nevis has recorded six murders and several shootings and armed robberies for the year.

 The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force have reported a near 60 percent increase in crime in 2016 over 2015.

The total number of reported crimes in 2016 was 1643, compared to 1048 in 2015, with a triple digit increase in shootings and double digits increase in murder, break-ins, larceny, indecent assault, rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, non-firearm wounding, arson and drug-related offences.

The number of homicides increased from 28 to 31 over the comparative period, an increase of over 10%.

Breakings increased from 242 in 2015 to 415 in 2016, an increase of over 71%.

Larcenies increased by 81%, going from 215 in 2015 to 390 in 2016.

The incidences of ‘shooting at with intent’ showed marked increase of 160%, rising from 10 in 2015 to 26 in 2016.

Reported sex crimes including rape, indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge also increased by 25%, going from 36 in 2015 to 45 in 2016.

Wounding by firearms fell sharply from 15 in 2015 to 5 in 2016, a decrease of 66%, while wounding by other means rose by 65%, from 69 in 2015 to 114 in 2016.

Drug offences, namely possession, trafficking, importation of illegal drugs, went from 204 in 2015 to 275, an increase of 34%.

Malicious damage and arson almost doubled in 2016, going from 86 in 2015 to 167 in 2016, up 94%.

Offences under the category of other crimes also rose from 29 in 2015 to 47 in 2016.

The number of robberiesdecreased by 12%, falling from 65 in 2015 to 57 in 2015.

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Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 07, 2017 (SKNIS): Seventy-nine recruits working to join the security forces have been screened using polygraph technology as part of efforts to ensure that applicants possess high levels of integrity, honesty, confidentiality and other values needed to serve and protect in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Inspector of Police, Eldrin Dickenson, said that 45 of the recruits are from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), while the remaining 34 are recruits of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.

Inspector Dickenson is leading this initiative, having being the most senior of four police officers trained in Psychophysiological Detection of Deception during a workshop in December 2014 in Barbados. He also completed the Regional Security System Training Institute’s (RSS-TI) Advanced Polygraph Examiner Course in Antigua earlier this year.

“It’s going great,” he said, when asked about the current screening programme. He added that reports with the results are currently being compiled to present to each agency head. That is expected to be sometime next week. Twenty-three of the newest members of Her Majesty’s Prison will also be tested.

Superintendent of Prisons, Junie Hodge, said that he approached the police to conduct the screening for prison officers. Although the process will start with the newest members, Mr. Hodge noted that all prison officers will eventually receive polygraph testing.

“We are human beings and we are not perfect,” Mr. Hodge said, referring to a recent case where a senior prison officer was arrested and charged for smuggling contraband into the facility. He stated that polygraph testing and the installation of a full body scan system will help considerably in reducing any illicit actions.

“The body scan machine is expected in short order,” Superintendent Hodge noted, adding that anyone coming into the prison, himself included, will be subject to a full scan before entering.

At the recent monthly Prime Minister’s Press Conference, it was revealed that senior members of the police force are in the process of being screened through polygraph testing.

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