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Police Intelligence In The Bahamas
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Assassination attempts foiled:
By CANDIA DAMES, Guardian News Editor -
Nassau, Bahamas:




The Royal Bahamas Police Force is increasingly driven by intelligence-led policing, which has thwarted assassination attempts on magistrates, prosecutors and witnesses, Acting Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson revealed yesterday while testifying before the House of Assembly's Select Committee on Crime.

But he noted that some witnesses have "paid the ultimate" price. Ferguson was referring to the murders of some witnesses who were lined up to testify in certain cases.

Such occurrences led to the government establishing a Witness Protection Program, but the acting commissioner was not questioned on how the program was functioning.

He was also not asked to name the magistrates, prosecutors and witnesses whose lives were threatened.

Ferguson, the first witness to appear before the committee, also told the five-member panel during the hearing at the British Colonial Hilton Nassau that police intelligence has foiled bank robberies; led to the interdiction of major drug shipments; resulted in the confiscation of millions of dollars, the seizure of high powered firearms and grenades and assisted in tracking suspects.

The police chief said intelligence-led policing is one of nine strategies being employed to address the high level of crime in The Bahamas.

"Intelligence-led policing will continue to be a focal point of the force's strategy to enable officers to prevent and detect crimes that may otherwise go undetected," he said. "It has been proven that with the effective gathering of information, the police can work smarter in its efforts to stem the flow of lawlessness in all segments of the community."

Ferguson also reported that while the level of crime is still far too high, the fear of crime seems to be decreasing. This is seen from the feedback that the force is getting from various areas of the community, he said.

Pointing to the impact lifestyle choices are having on the level of crime in the country, the police chief said that for 2008 statistics have shown that eight out of 10 murder victims knew their assailant.

"The force has beefed up its intelligence gathering capacity," Ferguson said. "And while we are still inviting members of the public to come forward with more information on crimes and suspects, we are pleased that the numbers are increasing. There is also a concern with the seemingly increasing use of violence in the commission of the most basic crimes. This lends itself to the likelihood of a minor offense becoming a major one."

The acting police commissioner, who was speaking under oath, also told the panel that the impact of the increased cost of living has caused some people who would normally be honest to "resort to being tempted" to purchase goods that they know may have been gotten through criminal activity.

Despite the challenges, Ferguson insisted that the Police Force was doing "an excellent job" in fighting crime. He was responding to a question asked by committee chairman, Dr. Bernard Nottage, who is the leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly.

Nottage also pressed the police chief on whether reported acts of corruption involving police officers and politicians were being properly investigated. Ferguson assured that corruption claims against police are properly dealt with and he asked Nottage whether he wanted to point to a specific case involving a politician. No such case was highlighted, however.

Ferguson agreed that a national agency to investigate corruption would be beneficial.

The acting commissioner also raised concerns about what he called the ever increasing number of criminal deportees from North America and other countries.

"These individuals that have very little connection to The Bahamas can in time become the next wave of criminal underclass that local law enforcers have to deal with," he said.

Ferguson is expected to testify before the committee again at a date to be announced. The select committee on crime will make recommendations to Parliament on how to address the issue, Nottage said. Other committee members are Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, FNM MP Kendal Wright and PLP MPs Glenys Hanna-Martin and Frank Smith, who each got a turn to question the acting commissioner on the crime situation in The Bahamas and how the Police Force is responding to it.

Superintendent of Prisons Dr. Elliston Rahming is scheduled to testify before the committee this morning.

September 4, 2008 | 5:02 PM Comments  3 comments

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adham5555 Adham Tobail
September 4, 2008 | 8:17 PM

good
adham
adham5555 Adham Tobail
September 4, 2008 | 8:18 PM

good paryicpation
adham
adham5555 Adham Tobail
September 4, 2008 | 8:19 PM

good particpation
adham
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