Some residents in Arouca say they have been waiting for years for a permanent police presence, as concerns about crime continue to affect the community. During a recent visit to the Eddie Hart grounds, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said stronger ties between police and residents could help improve safety, particularly for young people.
For residents, the call for a police booth is not new.
They say years of waiting have left them frustrated, particularly when crimes are reported and officers have to respond from outside the area.
“Donkey years, donkey years we begging for a stand. So thanks to you, Minister, for hoping we get these stands and the police booth, especially because all my life I hear and people raping people, bandits coming. Sometimes I start to run down bandits and deal with them myself and whatever, and we fed up call the police and the police coming from Arouca and it’s making no sense for long.”
The resident says the distance police have to travel can delay their response, while the community continues to deal with reports of crime.
But Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says residents also have a role to play in strengthening the relationship with officers already assigned to the area.
“Continue working with the police when they come here. Make friends. You the coach, you know, make sure and go and talk to them. Talk to them. Say, Officer Dwight, we got to see you. Talk to them, make friends, exchange phone numbers. So then if something happened, the coach call, you could say, hey, look, somebody interfering with one of my guys.”
Alexander says greater police-community engagement can also have an impact on young people.
He pointed to the experience of placing police officers in schools, saying the presence of officers has contributed to a different environment for students.
“Because you know why? Since we put police officers in school, we realize that we get a different turnout. Yes, yes. In terms of the students and education. So if I bring police here, I might get a different turnout in terms of the youth and their development.”
The minister says the goal is not only to respond to crime, but to build stronger relationships between police, residents and young people before problems arise.