The fight against crime in St Kitts and Nevis will continue in 2012.  Prime Minister and Minister with responsibility for the Police and the Defence Force, Dr Denzil Douglas, said progress is being made in the fight against crime.

Commending Commissioner of Police C.G. Walwyn and the entire police force for their determined effort to take the streets back, Douglas said the efforts of the Defence Force and law enforcement agencies including the Customs Department have helped considerably in the fight against crime.

“Of course, that battle against crime is still ongoing and law enforcement agencies will continue to intensify their activities in fighting crime. The government, through the Anti-crime Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister will continue to support the work of the security forces by providing the appropriate legal and policy framework for the effective discharge of their crime fighting functions,” said Douglas.

He said there is the need to continue to train the security forces and to empower them to carry out their very challenging functions.

During 2011, some 40 police and defence force officers benefitted from training in crime scene management provided by the United States Embassy Force Detachment Program and the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In addition, four officers from the Financial Intelligence Unit received training from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States government in financial investigation, money laundering and intelligence gathering.

Douglas said work will continue to improve the physical facilities of the security forces.

The new Dieppe Police Station that was constructed through the assistance of the government of Mexico, was handed over in November, to serve the people living in communities from Harris to St Paul’s and ground has already broken in respect of a new police station in Tabernacle to serve the people living in communities from Lodge to Belle Vue.