THE POLICE MUST FACILITATE THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

The Police department may enforce order on certain issues, but should not be expected to fight against crime single-handedly. While the police are supposed to facilitate the fight against crime, it is members of the public who should be assisting the Police in the fight against crime. The public needs to supply accurate information and then the police will use its facilities to prosecute the criminals. If members of the public who witness crime, or who have incidence of crime in their neighborhood refuse to report or cooperate with the police, it suggests that they are indifferent to the crime situation. The police cannot sniff out information from thin air. Someone has to come forward and say something.

If members of the community are complaining that crime is rising and is hurting them, but refuse to talk to the police or facilitate them, what does that show? It shows that talk is cheap; action speaks louder than words. Someone has to say something or the criminals will become bolder and more out of control. If you hear something about a crime, no matter how weak the clue may be, tell the police. Use the anonymous hotline.

DON’T POLITICIZE CRIME

It is unforgivable, and definitely immoral to politicize crime. Without being partisan, politicians who politicize crime have blood on their hands. People like Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Cedric Flowers, Perdomo, Lois, Dean Barrow and all those who think that they could help the UDP win an election by using crime are unfortunate for the future of Belize. They never suggest solutions for the problem. They only exacerbate it by blaming the government. The government cannot solve crimes without the people’s participation. No government can! Anytime you hear these men and women moan about how bad crime is, ask them when the last time they reported a crime to the police. How many crimes have they helped to solve recently? What solution have they suggested recently?

BECOME A PARTICIPANT

As a member of the Public, before you blame someone else or the government, ask yourself, how many crimes you have reported recently. How many leads have you given to the police recently? Be a participant not a complainer. And for those members of the community who task the police to do this and that before they will cooperate with them to “do their job,” think again. They are working for you and all of us. It’s for your safety. It’s for the peace of your neighborhood. Next week, the Minister and the Police Department will begin to share more information with the public on how to report crimes and how to tip-off the police more anonymously.

Share this article with your friends and family. Let’s not politicize crime!