The streets where that murder took place on West Canal is a hotbed for gang activity and had seen the fairly constant presence of a round the clock police patrol for years. But, it wasn't there on Saturday morning, - and that could be because police have been implementing their new strategy to re-deploy resources and swarm certain gang infested neighborhoods.
It's a new strategy that was announced and implemented on Saturday but today we found out that the so called "Crime-ridden" areas have not been officially demarcated yet.
So, right now police are just using their regular powers - but with additional manpower.
CEO in the Ministry of National Security George Lovell explained:..
George Lovell - CEO - Ministry of National Security
"The police department does have the authority to go into certain areas and do certain searches base on the laws that governs the police department and that is what they are currently using. When we have the areas identify as crime ridden areas - we find out that we have up until 30 days in which for us to be able to enforce the requirement of that act. I do know that we were in the PIV area; we were in the area known as back-a-town which is that area behind Berger Field. We were there yesterday and there are other areas that we will be in today."
Jules Vasquez
"Formally you all have not designated any crime ridden area yet?"
George Lovell - CEO - Ministry of National Security
"Not yet Jules, there is a procedure that we need to follow. Under the crimes control act; we first of all have to get consent from the crime control council. Once that consent is given then we have to have those areas identify and gazetted - that will be done today."
Reporter
"Since it's going to be gazetted today - when exactly does it come into effect, today?"
George Lovell - CEO - Ministry of National Security
"It comes into effect immediately after it's gazetted because the gazette is what makes it official."
Jules Vasquez
"How many areas are you all designating in the first instance?"
George Lovell - CEO - Ministry of National Security
"As many as we can handle."
Reporter
"One of the fears of people having heard this is that this move will give police blanket authority to go into any homes that they wish. Is there a criteria to prevent this?"
George Lovell - CEO - Ministry of National Security
"What we are trying to do - we do have information and intelligence to suggest who are the people who are most likely involve and we are trying as much as practical to try to stick to those homes and those individuals who we have identified."
"We want the public to understand that we will not just go in there with the big stick with the police beating up on them, but we want to make the surroundings safe."
For right now, that Gazette process is on hold. The Crime Control Council is yet to meet and the Chairman, Michael Young has made it clear to the ministry that they will not just rubber stamp anything, so the Ministry of National Security will have to build its case and wait.
In the meantime, the Police will continue with their operations using the regular police powers until the Orders for the Special Areas are gazetted.
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