Police aim to keep the Easter peace

(CNS): A mobile unit at Kiabo, increased road checks and joint patrols on the water are just some of the high visibility efforts police say they will be undertaking this coming weekend to ensure that the Easter vacation goes off peacefully. Urging the community to make safety the top priority, the RCIPS said officers are gearing up for the celebrations which are likely to involve an increase in water activities, family events, camping and road traffic, particularly in the Eastern Districts.

“We have had a number of Easter weekends pass peacefully without major incident and we want this trend to continue,” said Area Commander Chief Inspector Richard Barrow. "We want people to be responsible. We don’t want to stop people having fun; we just want them to do it safely.”

Police said operations will involve stationing the RCIPS’ mobile command unit at Kaibo and high visibility patrols being conducted in popular camping areas such as North Side, West Bay Public Beach and Barkers. The mobile command post will be manned full-time and people in the area are invited to make reports or police related enquiries at the unit.

Officers from the traffic management unit will be assisting with traffic control and checking for drunk drivers and cones will be placed around the North Side area to prevent double parking. Drivers are reminded that they need to obey all speed limits and should never get behind the wheel if they have had an alcoholic drink. “Anyone coming to North Side for the Easter celebrations should be mindful of their actions,” stressed CI Barrow. “No-one should trespass on private land, music should be kept to an acceptable level and visitors should park considerately.”

Officers from the joint Customs, Immigration and Police Marine Unit and the Department of Environment will be on hand to ensure safety on the water and reminded residents that lobster season is closed, and while conch is open until 30 April people are limited to five conchs per person or ten per boat, whichever is less. They also said that anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult to operate any powered watercraft whether it is a boat or personal watercraft (wave runner) and no one should operate a boat under the influence of alcohol. Life vests are required to be worn by each person on Wave Runners and any vessel or watercraft must not exceed 5 mph within 200 yards of shore. People snorkeling and swimming are required to display a “divers down” buoy or flag outside of 200 yards from shore.

Campers are advised when cooking outdoors to stay 25 ft away from dry vegetation or flammable materials and ensure that all coals are properly extinguished before discarding by burying them in a deep hole or outing them with a bucket of water. While cooking you should have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water on hand in case of emergencies. Use propane appliances in a well ventilated area and test for gas leaks in hoses or fittings by using soap and water. Residents should also remember to clean up after themselves as littering is dangerous to the environment and punishable by law. Residents are also reminded that when leaving their homes for camping or other Easter activities they should ensure that their property is completely secure. All windows and doors should be kept locked and if alarms are installed, they should be set.  

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.