RBPF commissioner to release 2019 policing plan

RBPF commissioner to release 2019 policing plan
Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson addresses media.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Just hours into the New Year, the police commissioner confirmed exclusively to Eyewitness News Online that the 2019 policing plan for the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) will not differ much from the one executed in 2018.

Police Commissioner, Anthony Ferguson, said that he was extremely pleased with the results of his 2018 policing plan and would make minimal tweaks to ensure that the Force’s crime fight is just as successful in 2019.

“When I set the policing priorities for 2018 we were determined to manage [the Force] by that plan and we did just that; and so when you see me release the policing plan for 2019 you won’t see much changes because I am very happy with the layout and format of the policing plan,” he said.

In 2018 the RBPF set its eyes on decreasing crime throughout The Bahamas through increased police presence, added mobile patrol, an increase in equipment to aid officers in their crime fight and the phased introduction of technological crime-fighting tools to increase the scope of police surveillance.

To this end, police saw that major crimes trended downward in 2018.

According to statistics released by the RBPF, murder decreased by 26 per cent, armed robbery decreased by 16 per cent, stolen vehicles decreased by 20 per cent and shootings decreased by 39 per cent.

For the first time in nearly one decade, police said the country managed to stay below the triple digits in regards to murder statistics.

The murder count stood at 91 by the end of 2018; a contrast to the 122 murders recorded in 2017, 111 recorded in 2016, 146 murders tallied in 2015, 122 tallied in 2014, 119 recorded in 2013, 111 in 2012 and 127 tabulated in 2011.

The police commissioner said he is elated with the progress of the police force.

“I feel extremely proud and want to thank God and the hard-working officers of the force. We have done well but there is still more work to be done,” he said.

National security minister Marvin Dames confirmed to Eyewitness News at the end of 2018 that ShotSpotter will be introduced to the crime fight in early 2019, followed by drones and body cameras for police officers.

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.