There has been public outcry from the community and the families of the victims of the recent spike in gang related crime and violence in Belize City. The police have been harshly - and some would say unfairly - criticized for letting things spiral out of control.
So, police have taken a pro-active step - but one that's not winning them many fans on the street. It's a crackdown on petty crimes. The idea is not a new one: it's been tried successfully before in larger cities where it's called the "Broken Windows Theory." The idea behind it is that if you leave a broken window and don't fix it, pretty soon, the door will be broken, and then, eventually, the whole house will be falling down. So, it's law enforcement that's trying to fix the big problems, by starting with the small, often overlooked, ones.
But what happens when the small ones have been left so long that they've become a way of life? That happened on Friday night when over 10 people were picked up for breaking the traffic laws because they weren't using bells and lights. Now, you might be saying, bells and lights on bicycles - in 2014? That's like, so 1980's, right!? So on Friday night, it was like a throwback party - except no one was dancing or laughing.
7News was called out to the Raccoon Street Police Station by a few irate families; here's what they had to say:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
There has been public outcry from the community and the families of the victims of the recent spike in gang related crime and violence in Belize City. The police have been harshly - and some would say unfairly - criticized for the fall-out. So, police have been trying to become pro-active in their crime fighting.
In an effort to try and create an environment that breeds lawfulness and discipline, police have started to target persons hanging out on the street side, persons drinking in public, and bike offences. Petty offences, you might say but, bicycle offences are more serious because these have been used to commit murders.
Generally, though, police are trying to crack down on that class of offences collectively referred to as quality of life crimes.
FILE: July 18, 2014
ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct 2
"These are crimes that are in our laws, on our books and we are just starting to enforce them. These are petty misdemeanor offences that have been overlooked for quite some time. We have been trying all different approaches to try to combat this violence, this crime in Belize City. So we are approaching them from the smallest offence up to the largest. We won't overlook anything at this time. So we want to warn the public that riding a bicycle on a sidewalk is an offence, riding a bicycle contrary to traffic, without light, without bell, without brake, is an offense. And the police will continue to do this operation to target these people."
But, the new campaign hasn't gone down well with those being targeted for these offences which just last week, were a way of life.
Shama Palacio - Upset With Police Crackdown
"Really and truly they are going on bad for no reason. We understand they are trying to raise funds for this and that but if they really want to lock up people. They could stand up right at the boulevard and if they really want to charge people for bells and lights, they talk about how they want to start license bicycles. How can you license a bicycle that doesn't have an engine? My son little truck, I have to try to insure that at traffic on Monday because they might lock up my little son for light and bell and that is not right. If they really want to lock up people, they can stand up at the boulevard from end to end - from Port to civic center edge ad they can collect people whole day. If they really want to collect they can go at the market where people come every day. I counted about 10 people pass here without bell and light since we are here from 7p.m., but you think they will grab them? You think they will search them? The police is right here watching them and they will watch me in my face and laugh."
And that's just the beginning of Palacio's rage at the way police are conducting the quality of life crackdown. He says that officers are enforcing to the point of absurdity.
Shama Palacio - Upset With Police Crackdown
"Loitering, how my little brother could be loitering when he is front of a food stall buying food. We are 4335 and they are 4344, my brother didn't even walk a yard, it's just one stone throw away that he got charge for loitering and bell and light - that doesn't makes sense."
Daniel Ortiz
"So you are not with that how they are trying to crack down on the small crimes to deal with the big crimes?"
Shama Palacio - Upset With Police Crackdown
"No, because they are bigger crime that people are walking off literally. You and I know that. For these little small crimes here - no man. This is what you call a waste of time. If they really want to make up time they can go at the market where people are buying their fish and their vegetables, onions and the whole works. Have them pose up, have 3 troopers out there and collect all riders if they really want to make money from the little poor people pocket. They want to charge us $100 - don't forget that."
Daniel Ortiz
"How many people you think are you sure of were picked up tonight?"
Shama Palacio - Upset With Police Crackdown
"Over 12 people, young men who just came from work. The young man who was buying food along with my brother has his son and his daughter - his two kids in his hands full of cement and they grab him and leave his kids right there - that is not fair."
Sharmaine Copious - Nephew Was Arrested
"A barrage of gunshots and rivalry in our neighborhood which is the far Pen Road, Faber's Road, Raccoon Street Extensions and they are not looking for the right people. We are saying that they are not getting the job done. This law that they implement about this bicycle system - why at this moment they will set these rules and regulations for poor people. Come on, we have our young children where we are suffering in this. The Prime Minister doesn't know what poor people are going through. They have to send the officers at the back of these places that are deep in darkness where they are taking innocent children life. I am unhappy tonight because I've been up and down. Things are not working the way it should, we've been up and down at the station for our family and we are not getting answer. My nephew, he lives in Mahogany Heights, he just came over to find out what's going on with his family down here. I sent him to the shop and on his way back they said that he have a bicycle without a bell and light."
Police commanders understand the effect of these operations, but they are pleading with the public to cooperate.
FILE: July 18, 2014
ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct 2
"We know that some innocent people will be inconvenienced, but we urge people to come on board and do the right thing."
FILE: July 18, 2014
ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct 2
"We want to sound the message that it is not legal to drink alcohol and to hang out on the street side in Belize City."
We note that today, quite a number of people were taken to Magistrate's Court for bike offences, loitering, public drinking, and assembling to gamble in public.
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