It's two days to Christmas and eight days before the New Year - a time for both merriment and family bonding. But hundreds of police officers won't be at home with their families - they'll be on duty - doing their best to keep everyone safe and their property secure. And in 2016, it's been harder than ever to keep people safe: officially there have been 135 murders recorded by police. It's close to a 15% increase over last year, and 2016 is on track to be the most deadly year since 2012. That's more reason than ever to pray for peace and sobriety during the holidays, but either way, the police top brass will have to do some major stocktaking. At a time where there are more uniformed police than ever before, why does violent crime continue to spiral out of control? That's what I asked the Commissioner today:...
Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"To my recollection we are at I believed 135 murders which is not where we would have wanted to be and not where we had expected we would be at end of December, we still have another week to go and that figure could change, I can tell you that many of the murders especially of recent have been not only heinous but senseless, we have had murders between friends, drinking you have had murders between friends speaking about religion, we have had persons entering people's houses and senselessly shooting persons and those kinds of murder are difficult to prevent, during this season we have stepped up our various patrols on the highway as well as in Belize City, officers can be seen, they have made a dent in terms of the level of crime but as I have indicated as police we always got to be right and all that is required is a split second for the criminal to get the opportunity and so we will continue to strategize, next year we will be introducing some additional strategies which will be shared with the public and should make a difference once again but I would like to commend the members of the Belize Police department who have worked tirelessly during 2016 in terms of giving service to the nation of Belize, as I said I applaud them for the many scarifies and countless hours, I would also like to wish the entire nation a blessed and safe Christmas holidays."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"Sir just to evaluate, comparing to 2015, I believe we had 119 murders in 2015 and I think the record number of murders was recorded in 2012 as 145, we are not so far away from that, so it has not been a good year at all."
Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"Well it has not been a good year in terms of murders, but there are many other things that we have to count our blessing for in terms of the situation on the streets not only with the gangs but with the economy situation and so persons look for opportunities and our job is to protect and serve and we have been trying to do that as best as we are able to."
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