Crime hot spot assessed to improve safety

| 10/07/2009

(CNS): Police are taking a closer look at the McField Lane area of George Town as it has become a notorious area for violent and other crimes. Installing closed circuit television (CCTV) and improving lighting were the two main subjects discussed as part of an assessment to see how crime can be ‘designed out’ of the area by police and government officials. Although police said this is now a hot spot area for them with regular patrols, more needs to be done to make the place safer.

“We want to make the area as safe as possible,” said Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis.  “The area is already on our hot spot list, which means patrolling officers pay particular attention to it, but there is more that can be done to improve safety. Unfortunately, we cannot have a police officer on every street corner and we need to look at additional crime prevention measures to supplement our strategy.”

It is hoped that by working in partnership with various agencies measures can be taken to help residents feel safer and deter and detect crime. “Crime prevention is a job not only for the police, but for our partner agencies and the community as a whole,” Ennis added. “We need to work together to do everything we can to ensure people feel safe in their neighbourhoods.”

Ennis along with Detective Sergeant Collins Oremule conducted a walk through of the area with Brian Tomlinson, Head of the National Roads Authority and Tristan Hydes, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of District Admin and Gender Affairs.

Ennis explained that it was an exploratory meeting to make an assessment of the area and examine what might be possible and appropriate.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.

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  1. Pale Rider says:

    To Spree,

    You are 100% correct my friend…Derek Haines and the DTF used to in fact go in and sometimes "take over" an area for the night…being very visible and deterring any illegal activity..when they left they would almost always leave with the warning…" You see us this time, but next time we visit, You won’t!!"  This had the desired effect as traffic in these areas would stop almost instantly…You will never see that kind of Policing in Cayman ever again….You don’t have enough officers with the dedication or the Cajones to do that anymore…ahhh the good old days…..

     

  2. Anonymous says:

    Too bad that these things are actually taking place in Cayman. I understand the fear of those who witnessed such a brutal crime but just remember, especially if you have family on your own you may never know when one of these criminal is coming to your turf. Act now! Is not about helping the Police, is about bringing peace to the Cayman Islands! 

  3. spree says:

     No coat hangers my friend more like Mannequins Lookin pretty eh! And the salary is pretty good too. Sadly this change came at the expense of some excellent officers who could walk in any area of Cayman.

    I recall hearing that  the DTF guys under Derek Hanies use to even stop and eat food in these  troubled areas at night. But sadly this is no longer i have been made to understand by insiders at the RCIPS that certain power hungry and envious elements all but destroy this respect and trust with the public.

    This has been replace by loyal local and foreign mannequins who are now also promoted. What we are seeing is the result of these changes. The problem is people are not safe anymore and the criminal element fully understands this and has adapted and is taking advantage of  these changes. Those responsible need to be held accountable for this terrible crime situation we now face.

    Persons now living in Cayman are paying a very high price for it. Politicians are well aware of it also however they do not want hear about crime although it makes a good topic on the political campaign and manifestos.  They are too busy making money or fixing the money maker.

    • ironside says:

      Spree, you are so right. In fact, skilled and dedicated officers here are ‘run out’ of the force because their actions highlight just how c**p the supervisors are.

      Reap what you sow Cayman, reap what you sow.

  4. young caywoman says:

    If you have lived on this island for more than one year, enjoy good food and a bit of music after a rather early Saturday night lock down, then you would most likely know where Jah T’s is – therefore, it’s really unfair for anyone to tell you "well dahs wah yah get for hanging out late night round dem futta areas"…(love ya like cooked food doh mama)

    I am sure that every single police in every single department in the RCIPS knows the exact potential of that area, and many other areas of the same nature.  I too agree with Heywood’s honorable mention of having police in the areas listed below – only one small problem – I think the RCIPS fear for their lives – and who wouldn’t? When people set their minds to do something and have access to the ‘tools’ to achieve these goals – then things get done.  What exactly will those poor lil officers do when the big choppers come out to get them?  And don’t go on like there aren’t any on island, just read the newspaper! 
     
    So – onto the real question – how do we address the problem?  I don’t have the answer – there cannot be just one answer to this problem…however – a few suggestions – if the RCIPS knows what they’re up against, then they should get themselves ready: full body amour, larger weapons, more qualified forces (ask the Queen to send us some of HER backup, navy – marines – soldiers, we only need a dozen), two to three of these ‘armed forces’ in every district, always present at these locations in the late night, this may just boost the morale of the RCIPS and instill some much needed respect for the RCIPS – their image does need a boost right now. And I feel sorry for you if you think “it’s not THAT bad in Cayman yet”…am NO!
     
    Next, gun control – to many people, guns are – simply put – weapons of mass destruction (on a smaller scale), for responsible people ( ie athletes and farmers) guns are used for their sport and trade however these guns are usually licensed and not intended for violence;  in the case of violent attacks however, a gun can boost you up like Supplegen, make you feel invincible and lead to a lifetime of heartache or jail time – but we know this right? Funnily, some people really don’t.  Educate our nation on guns and gun control, conduct raids where possible at ALL times, in areas where the RCIPS can swoop in and do surprise searches, do these regularly. Just a few ideas. 
     
    I would also like to request that the majority of the RCIPS stop acting like they’re in a world completely above us – they’re just like us RIGHT HERE; the RCIPS is here to protect and serve US; never forget it!
     
    BTW, some WTF stats:
    Saturday July 5th @ 9:00PM CAYMANIANS LIVING IN CAYMAN = 15,800
    by Wednesday July 8th @ Midnight CAYMANIANS LIVING IN CAYMAN = 15,798
    That’s two under 30 yrs old in 4 days!  WTF!
    We can’t keep losing to OURSELVES!
  5. Anonymous says:

    I went to a club one night and to my surprise just by bumping into someone, I felt what appears to be a gun under the guy jacket.  I left the club and never ever went to a club here in Cayman again.

    The Police need to hit the clubs and search everyone including the security guards too.

    Caymanian Female

  6. Heywood Djoublomi says:

    This area accounted for over 70% of Cayman’s murders last year and the police are only now deciding that their presence needs to be stepped up! I’d love to have been involved in that meeting!

    The RCIP is often accused of being useless. I want to believe they aren’t but I just can’t get away from the facts.

    The reason peolpe are down there is that Jah T’s restaurant "Taste In Your face don’t Blink" serves good food and other goods!

    Murders, stabbings, shootings only happens when his place is open, which is only TWO days a week. These events always happen between 12pm and 4am on those two days! I think anyone can see how the police can wipe out crime in that area quickly! Yes that’s right have a cop permanently on duty there for those 4 hours each night.

    You may say that would leave less presence elsewhere, but so what? Murders aren’t happening elswhere, you wipe out 70% of them by having someone situated there for those 4 key hours. Its not like they need to step up their presence at the Ritz and Camana Bay ( which far too often sees cops walking around at 12:30 pm on a Friday night). Can anyone tell me the last time someone was murdered at Camana Bay or the Ritz? Once the movies close down at Camana Bay a cop shouldn’t be anywhere near there.

    Permanant cops from 12pm to 4 am at Mcfield Lane, Peppers and Shir Reynolds, Murders down by 70%! There’s your solution! Done! Will this happen? NO! Will the armed response unit be seen wandering through the Ritz lobby this Friday night, absolutely, will someone be stabbed at McField Lane, absolutely, or if not there then Peppers or some other obvious spot. For this reason will the RCIP keep their title as absolutley usless, of course!

    • ironside says:

      Maybe the response to this area is down to the new leadership, not down to the newspapers’ friend…. open your eyes Cayman, things need time to change, but things have to start changing somewhere…. let us pray that the new boss is the man to take us forward, and all the dross below and behind him is discarded… James Smith may not have known where his subordinates come from, but the rest of us sure as hell do…..

      • ironside says:

        Young Caywoman, you are extremely insightful with the things you say. I’m not saying that in a ‘get off your a** and do more’ way, but with genuine admiration. If you could find a way to put your ideas/views/intelligence to work, so much the better.

        The last paragraph says it all. What we need is police who want to DO THE JOB, not to just BE POLICE. get out of your cars, and get mixing it with the community. That instantly generates more respect for you, the police.

        I’ve heard one cop here say "there are too many coat hangers in the force’… she’s right, there are, and not enough officers filling the responsibilty, rather than just the uniform….

  7. Anonymous says:

    The sad part is that our smallest children are put right in the middle of this area. Get rid of the crime or the children at Georgetown Primary will eventually become entangled in this mess!

  8. ironside says:

    and given the attending officers’ passion for ‘sharing information’ you may want to take him out of the loop also….

  9. spree says:

    Wha ya trying to do man kill all of Havana Club business Mr Mcfield is not going to like this my friend you don’t want to make him mad!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Whatever is down there that makes people hang out late at night, close it down or make it shut early, then there is nothing to hang about for.

    People know by now that is where the gangster wannabes hang out, so to be fair they go there at their own risk

    Might be interesting if the police dropped their speed cameras for a night and organised a huge sting operation down there. Search everybody, blitz the place. Either they make some arrests for weapons and drugs, or the gangsters throw away their weapons to avoid being caught. Either way thats a lot of weapons and drugs off the streets.

    Obviously any sting operation would have to be announced to junior officers at very very short notice to avoid any corrupt officers from calling ahead to their pals to inform of this pending operation.