Submission from John Redmond, Turks and
Caicos Islands
VIOLENT CRIME IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
I am writing as a resident of 18 years standing
here in the Turks and Caicos Islands to express my deep concern
at the situation in the islands, particularly the island of Providenciales,
with regard to violent crime and the lack of police resources
to deal with it.
Prior to moving to these islands, in my 40 plus
years living in England, I do not recall knowing at first hand
someone who had been the victim of a violent crime. In my 18 years
residing here, I have (or had) friends and acquaintances of whom
one has been murdered, two violently raped (both of whom were
very pregnant at the time), one sexually assaulted in the course
of an armed robbery and countless (nine in the just last month)
who have been threatened/beaten and robbed at knife point or gun
point.
All of these instances have the following in
common:
1. They took place in the victim's own home,
usually in the middle part of the evening, once at 6.30 in the
morning.
2. The perpetrators took their time, typically
in the order of half an hour, to intimidate, beat, rape or kill
their victims. In one recent case, they cooked themselves a meal
whilst waiting for their victim, a single, middle aged woman living
alone, to return from an evening out.
3. Where the perpetrators of these crimes
have been identified, they are usually found to have been born
in the TCI and are repeat offenders, well known to the police.
4. The police response was very slow.
5. The victims (if still alive) are, without
exception, traumatised and most have left the islands as soon
as possible after the incident. Many are too frightened to return
to their own homes.
This is just the tip of an iceberg. Violent
crimes are no longer given any publicity as it is generally thought
that this sort of news will drive away tourists and expatriated
residents on which the islands' economy largely depends. Armed
robberies of banks and other businesses holding cash are frequent.
Some of the reasons are not hard to find:
1. Prosecutions are not always possible due
to the difficulties the police have in collecting evidence.
2. Successful prosecutions are difficult
because of the reluctance of juries to convict. In such a small
community, jurors may well know or be related to, the suspect.
3. Jail sentences are often remarkably short
for the type of crime committed.
4. Suspects, even murder suspects, are often
allowed out on bail.
5. The recent US policy of repatriating hardened
criminals to the countries of their birth means that we get some
very undesirable people forcibly repatriated to these shores.
6. The lack of a rapid response by the police
means that the perpetrators of these crimes can usually make an
untroubled getaway and be well away from the crime scene by the
time the police arrive. The current favourite method is to take
the victims car, load it with the loot and drive some distance
from the crime scene, then transfer to another vehicle, abandoning
the stolen car.
7. Schemes like Crime Stoppers have been
unsuccessful, as those with knowledge of the criminals are frightened
to come forward.
8. Illegal fire-arms are in plentiful supply,
apparently being smuggled in by Haitian refugees.
9. The lack of an effective addressing system
to enable the police to locate and reach the crime scene without
delay.
10. Last, but not least, the lack of police
resources, which have not kept pace with the rapid growth of the
islands.
Most, if not all, of these reasons can be addressed
by those in authority, if they have the will and commitment to
address them and anything that can be done, directly or indirectly,
by the H.E. The Governor's office or the British Government will
be welcomed.
6 February 2008
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