Cabinet at its meeting of 12th May 2017 considered the Report of the National Crime Reduction Symposium held on 9th February 2017 and the Follow-up Workshop in Nevis on 2nd March 2017, and approved in principle the emerging National Crime Reduction and Prevention Strategy. The symposium brought together about 200 representatives of stakeholder groups and organisations, including representatives of the Clergy, the private sector, youth and other community interest groups, government departments, the Police and other security forces, who listened to a presentation by Dr. Neals Chitan on Twelve Roots of Crime that are influencing criminal activity in the Federation and elsewhere. Following the presentation, stakeholder representatives identified those roots of crime that were germane to their organisation or profession, and outlined strategies that they are prepared to implement to reduce the effects of those roots of crime that could be addressed through the work of their respective organisations.
The emerging National Crime Reduction and Prevention Strategy includes activities that reflect Dr. Chitan’s four dimensional approach to crime fighting: Enforcement, Diagnosis, Education and Rehabilitation. The overall Strategy is one with which stakeholder groups and organisations can identify because it is based on their own suggestions and commitments to action. The Strategy should therefore have a high level of buy-in from local stakeholders. The Strategy reflects a whole community approach to crime reduction and prevention, thereby augmenting the continued enforcement actions of the Police and other security forces.
The National Crime Reduction and Prevention Strategy is now being circulated electronically to the media. Printed copies of the booklets are also being prepared. Over the upcoming weeks and months, the Ministry of National Security will engage the various government departments, stakeholder groups and organisations, to mobilise them into action to further develop their respective strategies and related programmes, as they begin implementation of programmes to reduce and prevent crimes in the short, medium and long term.
