One of the major concerns of the Bahamian people today has been the proliferation of crime and the continued fight against its increase. Government after Government has come up with creative ideas and strategies within which to fight the growing crime rate.
As a concerned citizen, I too have thought of this issue and observed a trend, which I feel, should it be curtailed, would lend some assistance in the fight. I am sure that my suggestion is not new, but should not be taken lightly.
In my humble opinion, I believe that the Police Force drops the ball when it comes to dealing with the minor complaints. I base my conclusions on countless reports relayed to me as an attorney-at-law in this country.
Before I go any further, please be aware that any statement I make with regard to specific events are done with the permission of the parties. The smaller issues reported to the Police, though tedious, when given some attention could stop the more serious crimes from occurring.
Case in point is a matter which occurred a year and a half ago involving a high speed chase and resulting in the death of the young man who perpetrated the crime. While some may not shed any tears for him, it was the other parties at the receiving end of his criminal activity that suffered the most. A young lady went to bed one evening leaving her newly purchased vehicle on the outside of her home. When she awoke the following morning, the vehicle had been stolen. She immediately reported the incident to the Police who began an investigation. A few days later while she was walking to catch a bus, she recognised her vehicle pulling up in the front of a house with a porch occupied by several other young men. She then saw the young man jump out of her car and join the others on the porch. As a result, she immediately detoured to the Police Station to ask their assistance in going to this house to retrieve her vehicle. Their response was that there was no vehicle available and she found herself waiting for three and a half hours before finally leaving the station without any satisfaction. In her despondence, she returned to where she last spotted her vehicle, it was gone. Three weeks later, the young man was involved in a high speed chase with the Police in another stolen vehicle. It is alleged that he was involved in an armed robbery and was fleeing the scene when the chase occurred.
Though, he died, the parties to whom the vehicles belonged suffered loss because third party insurance does not cover theft. Had the Police assisted when needed, both incidences (two car thefts and an alleged armed robbery) would have been avoided.
Another example involves a young lady who was attacked in the park near her home by an assailant unknown to her. A report to the Police only involved a taking of a report. There was no going back to the scene, no driving through the adjourning corners to see if the assailant may have retreated there. No investigation was attempted at the time and doubtful if at all. Before this attack took place, the young lady and one of her female neighbours have been embroiled in a long term property dispute. She purports that her neighbour had encroached on her land without her knowledge and/or consent. Prior to the matter being taken to court, there was an incident between them in which the female neighbour threw dirt and rocks into her yard and then began throwing jeers and fighting words which also encouraged other neighbours in the area to do the same. The Police were called but did nothing to at least warn the female neighbour to stop activities which were capable of breaching the peace. It is my belief that should this matter had been dealt with by the Police from the beginning; the attack in the park may have never taken place.
A final case involves a man who made a detailed complaint to the Police Station as a result of his wife and her brother continuously hounding him. One evening, the wife’s brother hit him in the head with a beer bottle. On three separate occasions he had to give the same complaint as it was discovered that somehow the statements previously taken had disappeared. My firm wrote to the Police Station in order to get a copy of the report to be included in his Petition for Divorce, unfortunately, to date we have never received the written report. In any event, we were still able to obtain his divorce despite the fact that we have never received this report. On the other hand, he decided not to pursue the civil matter because he requested the Police Report on several occasions but was unable to receive same. Though he would have been able to pursue the civil matter for compensation, he chose not to because dealing with the Police was like pulling teeth. Each of these parties when asked what was it that they wanted stated that their prime concern was safety and justice. When compensation was suggested, it was stated that the primary concern was safety. People just want to know that they can live in peace in their own country and in their community. In fact one of my clients suggested that the culprit could put the money where the sun does not shine. Security, safety, justice, and truth are things that no amount of money can ever buy.
Who should be held responsible when the police fail? According to the common law usually the police can be sued under certain circumstances, especially when it can be shown that the police were negligent in their duties. However, very seldom do Bahamians actually sue the police unless there is some direct responsibility that can be proven or shown.
Please note that I am in no way trying to promote that the Police should be held responsible for the crime rate, however when it can be proven in certain circumstances that they have dropped the ball, they should be held responsible and ask to account for their actions. I simply ask that the Police take care of the small incidences when they are reported so that the bigger ones will be avoided and the crime rate can see some decrease.
Sherita D Forbes
Nassau, The Bahamas
September, 2012
