Crime situation `truly frightening’ – Granger

PNCR presidential candidate David Granger today said that the police seemed clueless on how to tackle illegal firearms and the burgeoning amateur gangs and he described the daily crime situation in this country as “truly frightening”.

In a statement today he said: “The public perception isthat there is a surge in crime and that perception is derived from the Police Force’s own daily bulletins. The Force seems to be clueless about formulating a plan to stanch the influx of illegal firearms and about how to identify and counter the mushrooming of numerous amateur gangs.  It is public knowledge that the Police Force is severely under strength. Its weakest division – embracing the huge hinterland – is both a major source of gun-running and the scene of many armed robberies. Yet the Administration has done nothing to deal with the Force’s human resource deficiency and to reorganize and reinforce the command and management of the hinterland.

“Small gangs of two or three young men armed often with only one rented pistol among them frequently pounce on internet cafés, petrol stations, Chinese restaurants, vendors, visitors from overseas and any other vulnerable targets”, he said.

Granger recommended that the government “embrace the recommendations of reports of experts and commissions such as the Disciplined Forces Commission and the Border and National Security Commission. The administration can make the country safer by enforcing existing legislation and energizing law enforcement agencies.”