We meet the south side commander when he was touring the St. Martins Area on Oleander Street. That's the heart of PIV Territory – and has been a site
of chronic violence. But, it's cooled down a lot in the last five months and that can be correlated to the new community-based policing model adopted
by Williams. It's the second time he and his community police have been in the area – and he says they went back asking the community to report on how
the police have been responding to their needs:…
Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside
"Yes it is a PIV area it is known as banks area but I want it to be made clear that every area is Belize City is the police area. We are no longer
tolerating any turf per se but we try to see how best we can work with the different people in different areas to see how we could have some semblance
of peace within the community."
"When we come the last time complaints were made to us about police attitude and behaviour. We have dealt with those complaints so we're now coming
back to the community to see if those complaints persist and in the same process we are again getting their views and their ideas and how best they can
assist us with information to be able to better police their area."
Donna Cayetano - Area Resident
"I feel glad when I see police the come around, I feel glad Jules because then when the police are around that will lessen the crime, the presence of
the police. I feel glad because from Mr. Williams take over, the killing slow down a lot, big time too it slow down a lot. So I would want it continue,
come in and talk to the people and what the people have to do is work along with Mr. Williams too and everything gwen good and the crime will lessen
too Jules. And I feel safe too when I see they are around, that make I feel safe you know; the presence of the police, I feel safe. Every minute they
pass, I like that, I like the movements of the police right now, and I like how they are working back here, 100% Jules."
Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside
"The people are saying they are seeing a reduction in crime, particularly the violent crimes and they are saying that they are happy with the presence
of the police, they are seeing the police patrols on a daily basis and they're happy with the police respond time."
"In the same way we want eradicate crime and we are telling people we will not tolerate criminal behaviour. In that same vein we are saying that
officer's attitude must also change because often times I believe that the attitude of the police itself was a contributing factor to the crime
situation before; because when we are out there brutalizing people, treating the young people in such a hostile way. All these people are seeing is
violence, so what do they do? They perpetrate violence act as well. So if the police will be acting violently then automatically the people out there
will do the same, that's what they
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