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So, what about Belize City? Well, in the beginning of the 2015, there was a worrying spike in murders, especially, gang related killings, but as soon as Supercop Chester Williams was given command of the Belize City Southside, he hit to ground running with his community policing focused on conflict mediation between rival gangs.

The Commissioner told us today that the Community Policing strategy has been embraced as best as could have been hoped for:

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

"You could recall in the second half of 2015, first of July to be exact; we create 3 new divisions out of Belize district; eastern division rural which comprise the Hattieville Ladyville area. Eastern division south which was the Southside of the Belize City and eastern division north which is the North side of Belize City as well as San Pedro and Caulker. That allowed the divisional commanders our very senior officers, ACP/Senior Super Intendent to be able to more manage the smaller area and to be more flexible and adaptable to issues of crime. In the second half we were able to see a significant slowing down of crimes, especially in Belize City, Southside in particular in terms of the cases of murder."

"The community policing approach was in effect, the intervention efforts were in effect, Mr. Williams took it to another level. He was more out there and was more willing to meet with each and every person whenever an incident occurs in an effort to intervene. It was also being done by the previous commander but it was not highlighted by the media as such, that now they realise the benefit of the media. So I'm saying the North side is also having the media present whenever they are out doing some of these meet and greet. Obviously we police with the consent of the people and so the key to our success is being on the ground to meet the various residences of the city as well as the nation to listen to their concerns and see how we're able to assist and respond. Not everything we're able to solve but the things that are within our ability to solve we do try to solve them and solve them quickly."

But, might the answer to violent crime in the City's Southside not have been staring them in the face for quite some time now? Viewers may have noticed that in the recent years the police department began focusing significant resources in paramilitary style policing – the kind practiced by the GSU. We asked the Commissioner if there will be a continued shift in focus from that style of policing, given the measurable results that community policing has been yielding. Here's what he had to say to that:

Daniel Ortiz

"Was that a wrong-headed approach would you say, looking back on the successes of community policing even just the few months?"

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

"I won't say it's the wrong approach. When I became commissioner, I emphasize that my approach would be community oriented policing. We've been having a number of training sessions across the country with the officers. The intent is to have any officer see himself a community oriented police officer, that does not stop that officer from being the tough cop and arresting person but you do not have to always be that way."

"There is nothing wrong with communicating because people want to hear from the police and we want to hear from the people because we police with their consent."

Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News

"Will the police be perhaps revisiting the traditional roll of the GSU?"

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

"I don't understand in terms of the traditional roll of ther GSU, the GSU is the anti-gang unit for the department and we do know that we are challenge by a number of gangs in particularly Belize City. As your good colleague says there is always the need for the capability and paramilitary approach when the soft side of policing does not work."

Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News

"But the soft side as you've said, the soft side is working also with those gangs in Belize City."

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

"Yes but you cannot close off an option, you've got to keep all options on the table."