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BASSETERRE, St Kitts (SKNIS) -- The Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force is set to intensify its community policing intervention programme as it introduces new policies for the advancement of the agency and implements anticrime strategies.

“One such strategy will be to continue extending an olive branch to members of gangs who are seeking an alternative to the gang culture and lifestyle,” said Commissioner Celvin Walwyn.

The measure has recorded some successes over the past year and has been supported by private partners who have provided opportunities for the young men to be engaged productively.

The law enforcement agency is also working with private corporations who are sponsoring the introduction of the Crime Stoppers Program. The initiative, which offers cash rewards to persons who anonymously provide information that leads to the arrest of criminals and fugitives, exists in many countries around the world including the United States, United Kingdom, India and Australia. Officials plan to establish the local Crime Stoppers Program in the coming months.

Additionally, Walwyn stressed that the police force will continue to strengthen the relationship with the St Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, describing the interagency collaboration as “instrumental in the assault on crime in the Federation.”

Looking back on other successes from his first year in office, the police chief said he is pleased with the upgrades of the forensic capability of the force and the related training for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Officers. However, he is most proud of the establishment of the Special Victims Unit (SVU). The unit was created on April 1, 2012 to address issues relating to child sexual molestation and abuse and domestic violence.

“I respect and appreciate women and believe in the protection of our children from paedophiles,” Walwyn said. “To date, we have had an increase in the reporting of unlawful carnal knowledge and domestic violence which means that the cycle of silence is being broken. It is still a work in progress but it is work that law enforcement must continue to build on.”

The strategy of reaching out to the public is not new in St Kitts and Nevis, but the renewed commitment is being fuelled by a simple thought.

“The community has been very supportive in the first year [of my tenure],” the police chief said. “The police in turn will increase their support to the community. We must ensure that the public's confidence in the police force is not only restored, but maintained. Business as usual must not take a foothold in the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force and police officers must give the public an equal days work for an equal days pay.”

Walwyn reiterated his pledge of support to the public and promised that the RSCNPF will work very hard in conjunction with the other Joint Forces in returning the streets of the Federation to the people.

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