Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage announced yesterday that he has directed the commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) to deploy up to 150 officers to assist the police force in fighting crime.
"Mr. Speaker, we are not going to take it any more," said Nottage, while contributing to debate on the 2013/2014 budget. Nottage said the Defence Force officers can assist with patrols or with fire services.
"I don't mind how it's done, but there must be a greater presence within our communities in order to give our citizens relief from their fear of crime and to enable us to get a handle on these young men who are marauding our community," he said.
Nottage said the government is developing several crime prevention programs targeted at the nation's youth. He called on the opposition to join the crime fight. Statistics Nottage also released statistics that show that crime throughout The Bahamas decreased by 10 percent between January 1 and June 11, 2013.
However, some categories, including armed robbery and sexual offenses, recorded a jump. Not all crimes are included as part of the statistics officials release from time to time.
Of the categories included, 5,238 crimes were reported up to June 11 last year, compared to 4,703 during the same period this year. Crimes against the person increased by two percent while crimes against the property decreased by 13 percent.
The statistics show that rape cases increased by two percent, with 45 cases recorded last year compared to 46 this year. Attempted rapes increased by 1,100 percent, from one case to 13 cases. Unlawful sexual intercourse cases increased by eight percent, from 74 cases to 80. Armed robbery cases rose by four percent, from 487 to 506. Attempted robbery cases increased by 33 percen
t, from nine cases to 12 cases. Murders were down 14 percent, from 64 to 55. Attempted murders were down 55 percent (from 11 to five); manslaughters were down by 100 percent (from one to none) and robberies were down by five percent (from 165 to 157).
In crimes against the property, all categories showed a decrease with the exception of shopbreaking, which increased by six percent. Burglary cases decreased by 15 percent; housebreaking cases decreased by 24 percent; stealing cases decreased by six percent; stealing from vehicle cases decreased by nine percent and stolen vehicle cases decreased by 15 percent. Nottage said while crime is trending downwards, the government remains concerned.
"The fear of crime is [linked] to this murder count and unless and until we get a hold on that we will have the fear," he said. "And as long as we have that fear then no one is going to be satisfied. I'm not satisfied."
Guns Nottage said the country will continue to have high murder rates unless the government deals with the illegal flow of guns and gets a handle on the number of young men who are committing the crimes. Nottage said the government has asked the United States to help stem the flow of illegal guns out of that country.
He noted that 80 percent of the murder victims died as a result of gunshot injuries. The police took 480 guns off the streets in 2012 and confiscated 160 guns so far this year. Nottage said the government has also taken steps to ensure that the guns do not end up back on the streets. He asked for the support of the opposition to hold a firearm amnesty period so that guns can be turned in to the police without consequence.
In 2011, the Ingraham administration held a month-long gun amnesty. At the end of that initiative, 75 illegal firearms and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition were turned in to authorities.
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