Police record big drop in crimes in 2013 |09 January 2014

The police have recorded a significant drop of 29.27% in criminal activities for the year 2013, compared to 2012.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, during a police award presentation ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) on Tuesday afternoon.
 
During the ceremony, the Commissioner of Police Ernest Quatre, who has to date spent 47 years in the force, was rewarded as the longest ever serving local police officer.

As part of the same ceremony, Chief Superintendent Guy Roucou, who has himself been in service for 42 years, showed through a presentation that gone are the days when the police operated with a couple of vehicles and arrested people for washing their feet above the river laundry mark or for picking coconuts. Today, the work of the police has in fact become much more complicated in the fight against modern forms of criminality such as drug trafficking and fraud.

The challenges have however not prevented the police from recording remarkable success in 2013, as stated by Minister Morgan on Tuesday.

The minister has attributed the success to a repositioning of the police department and the application of a pro-active and methodical approach as from 2012 which started bringing positive results since the end of that year.

The positive changes and progress have continued through 2013, especially with the creation of two important police units, the NCSD (National Crime Services Division) and VIC (Vice Intervention Component).

“By being pro-active, it has impacted positively on crime reduction in general in Seychelles, causing it to decline by a remarkable 29.27%. This result has not come haphazardly but rather it has happened as a result of assessments, planning, training and an overall methodical approach to deliver the day-to-day service of policing in a manner that was most likely to have a direct and positive impact in general,” Minister Morgan said.

Areas where the police have recorded significant progress are theft, arson and criminal damage and burglaries as well as house breaking. It is worth noting that in the last two categories cases have dropped by 40%.

At the same time, Minister Morgan has suggested that if the levels of anti-public order offences and anti-social behaviour have remained stable, there has however been a slight increase in murder, manslaughter and dangerous driving death cases as well as an upward trend in sexual offences and fraud cases.

The minister has announced that with the collaboration of partners such as Social Services, the Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Churches, the Judiciary and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) these will be the targets of focus as from this year, while all will be done to maintain what has been achieved. At the same time, Minister Morgan is confident that if criminality rates come down in those areas, this will cause a domino effect and bring down the level of other crimes.

For 2014, the minister responsible for Home Affairs has announced the creation of a Police Marine Unit which, added to work currently done by the NDEA and Coast Guards, will ensure coastal law enforcement.

He has also stressed on the necessity to improve on the quality and professionalism of the PSSW (Police Security Support Wing) and to turn the unit into a highly professional and effective one, as should be the case across the board in the force.

“The positive transformation of the police force will continue as there will still be much to do in the future to ameliorate the country’s stability and fight against criminality.

 We must improve our professionalism, including the approach of officers and their interaction with the public.

 We have received too many complaints in this regard in the past. We will apply a zero tolerance policy against illegal acts within the force and the minority of police officers involved will be dealt with accordingly and in a legal manner. Today, every policeman knows that the police management is serious about this,” Minister Morgan concluded.