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“Major crimes …down by 30.6 percent” – ComPol Crispin Jeffries

General“Major crimes …down by 30.6 percent” – ComPol Crispin Jeffries
In a press briefing held yesterday, Wednesday, Police Commissioner Crispin Jefferies presented crime statistics for the first quarter of 2010. No cameras were allowed in the briefing.
  
In Jefferies’ analysis of the statistics, the major crime rate (major crimes meaning murder, rape, robbery, theft and burglary), has been down for the first quarter of 2010.
  
Contrary to any Belizean citizen’s, residing within the confines of this 22,966 square kilometer of the Country Belize, views on their safety factor that this New Year 2010, has brought to them thus far. Most individuals, if not all, would concede that they have never felt more afraid to walk out of their homes at any given hour, whether it be day or night, as brutal murders, robberies (which used to take place mostly at night) and assaults seem to be spilling over into an hourly phenomenon.
  
In reference to the crime statistics presented to us, dated January first to March thirty-first of 2010, major crimes have been calculated at 632 countrywide. Jefferies also concluded that in there was a decrease in arrests of 39.7% in the year 2010 thus far, seeing as though the number of crimes, in his data, shows that Belize as we know it is a much safer place since crime level has “decreased”, there is inevitably a lower rate of arrest.
  
The statistics showed that for the first quarter major crimes comparison for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; in 2007 murder was at 25, rape 11, carnal knowledge 23, robberies 162, theft 347 and burglaries 340 tallying 908 over-all. For the year 2008 the crime statistics showed; murder 27, rape 8, carnal knowledge 18, robberies 99, theft 287 and burglaries at 273 totaling 712 over-all crime. In the year 2009 the data showed; murder 29, rape 9, carnal knowledge 12, robberies 159, theft a astounding 371 and burglaries 331 totaling 911. Lastly the quarterly calculations for the year 2010 which shows; murder 25, rape 6 carnal knowledge 9, robberies 125 theft 241 and burglaries 226 calculating to an over-all number of 632.
           
Jefferies states that the statistical data is proving that the year 2007 was the most dangerous and un-safe period in Belize’s history. The Commissioner, during the press conference or as he put it, meeting, explained that they have increased police presence on the streets of Belize especially in the “hot” areas as he put it, but wouldn’t not elaborate on the figure of increased police patrols or personnel on the streets of Belize.
  
The data showed that there was a decrease in major crimes also by a percentage of 30.6 percent. During the press (dictatorship) conference, the commissioner was questioned by the media about other topics apart from the statistical coverage he seemed (hell-bent) on sticking to (and not straying from). He was confronted on the issue of addressing the public in regard to his department’s conflicting statements on the matters of the Spanish Lookout Scotiabank robbery which occurred on March 30, 2010 in which a police corporal, Jermaine Mangar, was identified by Jefferies as being involved in the ring of individuals associated with the crime, contrary to the conflicting statements of two other officers who publicly made statements of their own, contradicting the Commissioner’s previous statement about a police officer’s involvement in the Spanish Lookout robbery.
  
Jefferies very arrogantly explained to the media houses that he has NO intention of addressing the general public to reassure them, stating however “That is what the press officer is there for”.
  
The entire meeting was one of confusion. Belizeans are living in fear, yet the Commissioner is reassuring us about the statistical findings from his department; so in hind-sight, the statistical figures should put one soundly to sleep. Yet in another press conference dated April 1, 2010 Jefferies himself expressed the level to which the police department is taking the criminal element when he stated “The criminal element is very brazen, very aggressive and we will have none of that without us having similar and proportionate response and the proportionality will be that if we are confronted or there are confronted, we will have to speak to people in the court system thereafter, because they will be shot and killed if they are caught, there is no doubt in my mind that if they act with impunity we will have to respond in similar manner.”
  
In the history of Belize one cannot recall such a statement coming from the Commissioner himself, showing a reflection of the seriousness in which the police department is viewing to-date the hostility to which the criminal element has forced them to take.
  
However statistics don’t lie, at least, not as far as the Commissioner is concerned. Nevertheless, the reality of our Belizean society is a daily factor given to us through media coverage, press releases, news and families in a daily state of mourning. 

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