As part of the government's new crime-fighting strategies, authorities will lock down areas of New Providence by blocking entrance and exit points "in pursuit of evidence or persons", according to Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage.

In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Nottage was asked about the new crime fighting strategies repeatedly promised by the government. He was also asked what the prime minister meant when he said the government was considering a crime response that may impact the freedom of movement of residents. Nottage indicated that the freedom of movement statement referred to bail conditions and area lockdowns.

"There may be occasions where we have to lock down an area in pursuit of evidence or persons who have committed crimes," he said.

"Just as we have had the situation with the prisoner who [escaped]; it was not necessary in that case, but it may be necessary when we know that someone is in a particular area of movement, and we are seeking to capture them, or get evidence to do with drugs or guns we have to, what I call, lock down an area. That is, limit movement into and out of an area until such time as we have carried out whatever the particular investigation is."

When asked about the feasibility of such a plan in New Providence, Nottage said, "Some areas are easy and some areas are not. But in the hot-spot areas, there is a good opportunity in some of these areas to lock down certain main entrances and exits from these areas, which gives us the time to be able to... It's possible."

Nottage was also asked how soon lockdowns could be used. He said while the strategy is still being explored the police have locked down areas within the past year in what he said was a "very limited way" for a couple of hours.

"The police know a lot about the way these areas are structured and not only the main streets, but all of the track roads etc.," Nottage said. "You know some areas of our country or New Providence you can walk from East Street to Wulff Road and to Robinson Road without going through the main streets. But you need to know that [because] if you are going to lock an area down, there is no use blocking off the streets without being able to block off these paths."

In October, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the police force would roll out new crime-fighting strategies, which may impose on people's freedom of movement. But this was not reflected in Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade's 2016 Policing Plan, which was released earlier this month.

While much of the plan encompasses the same initiatives previously outlined, the plan calls for police to "acquire the services of a helicopter for rapid responses to serious crimes, fleeing felons and for patrols of hot spots". The commissioner said the police force will also explore the acquisition and lawful deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Nottage said the use of UAVs and helicopters will assist with area lockdowns.

"There is a view that has developed that a way that we can assist with the rapid solution to some of these crimes is to have an airborne strategy where we can get an overview of the island to enable us to follow people who are seeking to escape the police's jurisdiction," he said. "And so, the intention is to see the extent to which adoption of UAVs and perhaps helicopters may assist in improving the ability to do so."

The minister said the government has not acquired the equipment as the matter is still being assessed, but "it is our intent to use whatever strategies are available to us to reduce crime and reduce the ability of those who have committed crimes to escape custody".

The government has not determined how much it will spend on the equipment, according to Nottage. But Nottage assured that those details and more will be presented to the public once the government completes its assessments. He added that he was disappointed with the response to Greenslade's 2016 policing plan.

"People do not seem to have taken the time to read it because I think there are a number of innovations in the plan," Nottage said.

The Christie administration has been criticized for failing to live up to the promises it made while on the campaign trail to reduce crime.

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