The Bahamian government is going on a major offensive against crime as Prime Minister Phillip Davis said organised criminal gangs have plagued the country for far too long.
In an address to the nation last evening, Davis said The Bahamas’ national security arms will be acting in three stages titled ‘Clear, Hold and Build’.
“Put simply, our first phase is to ‘Clear’ out the gangs from our neighbourhoods. Our police, armed with new resources and resolve, will strike hard against these gangs. We’re not just disrupting them, we’re dismantling them,” the prime minister said.
“We will show no mercy to those who have shown no mercy to their fellow citizens. If you choose crime, you will face the full weight and might of the law.”
The government’s increased anti-crime efforts come as the Bahamas has recorded 11 murders since January 1.
Davis highlighted that most of the people killed had long criminal histories and were out on bail. He also noted that the perpetrators are sometimes themselves out on bail for similar offences.
The prime minister said that fact justifies the need for “a more aggressive approach by the judiciary in denying bail in murder cases.”
“In my view, the prosecutors must likewise be more aggressive in appealing instances where bail is granted and the elements I have just described exist,” he commented.
Anti-gang legislation will be enacted to give law enforcement more tools to operate with.
“We are going to introduce the toughest Anti-Gang Legislation ever. If you are associated with a gang, we are coming after you. If you have a lot of shiny things no way to explain your wealth, we are going to seize what you have,” the prime minister stated.
“But let’s be clear: this is not just about more police on the streets; it’s about smarter, strategic policing. We are targeting the hotspots, dismantling the networks, and choking off the lifelines of these criminal organisations.”
Davis called on Bahamians to work with law enforcement in their efforts in the coming weeks as the anti-crime exercise may lead to some inconveniences.
“We are all likely to be affected by the more intrusive policing which is coming. We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action,” he said.
“This may make you late for your appointments or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes.
“We ask for your co-operation, support and trust as the police go about their business. Rather than complain about any inconvenience, maybe thank those officers who are working on our behalf.”
Outside of the gangs, Davis said his government will also seek to combat incidence of social and domestic violence.
He said the measures have already been discussed and are being rolled out.
