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Monday July 30th 2007, St. George’s: Grenada’s
Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell and Police Commissioner Winston
James met with members of the police high command to discuss key issues relating
to policing. One of the most important issues raised in the meeting was the
issue of youth delinquency and crime. Prime Minister Mitchell asked the police
officers to be very firm with youth offenders but asked them to be
understanding. The Prime Minister told the police officers to be very tough on
crime and with the persons who commit these acts. He said that law and order
must be maintained for the preservation of a peaceful Grenada.
The Prime Minister noted that police need to become more integrated into the
communities and emphasised the importance of community policing. He also told
the group that police officers need to play an integrated role in society and he
noted that officers need to be role models, counsellors, and parental figures to
the young people in society. The Prime Minister and several of the senior police
officers present recognised that young people were under increasing pressure and
that poor examples from some members of the adult population were compounding
the problem. “We must look at the messages we send to our young people. If there
is something wrong happening and we do not stand up against it we are sending a
bad message. The youth see those of us who glorify and praise criminals for our
own selfish means. Criminals are not heroes and must not be treated as such,”
the Prime Minister remarked.
The Prime Minister on suggestion from a senior member of the force pledged to
establish a system to award outstanding police officers. He pledged to work with
the Commissioner to have a police awards ceremony before the end of the year.
“We have to award our outstanding officers. Many of these officers put their
lives on the line to keep law and order in the community and we must let those
who go beyond the call of duty know that their work is appreciated,” the Prime
Minister said.
The Prime Minister, Commissioner and the senior police officer also discussed
the computerisation of the police force operations and the promotion criteria
for police officers. |