BELMOPAN, Mon. Feb. 22, 2021– In an interview with local media on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, was asked to comment on the recent increase in major crimes in Belize. Over the past few weeks, we have reported on a number of violent incidents, some resulting in the loss of life and property of citizens. Commissioner Williams remarked that, considering the circumstances, the Police Department is still doing a good job carrying out its mandate.

“When we compare this year to the previous years, I think the only year we have had a better start than this year would take us all the way back to around 2008,” Commissioner Williams pointed out.

He added, “The fact we are policing in a pandemic for the most part, we have been short of human resources because of persons who are ill because of the pandemic, and our attrition continues. But despite that we are still able to contain crime to a certain level.”

Commissioner Williams said that the stakeholders in the fight against crime must work together to ensure the best possible results for the country.

“While, yes, the police may only be responsible to address the effects of crime, we still need to tap into those persons who are responsible to address the causes of crime, because if we don’t, we will always find ourselves having to be addressing the effects of it, and we want that to change,” Commissioner Williams said.

He highlighted the fact that the new National Crime Fighting Strategy will involve other organizations and new initiatives with a view to collectively addressing the scourge of crime in the country.

“We believe that if we can do that, we can reduce crime, even more greater,” Commissioner Williams said.