By Lakisha La Bassiere - Q95FM News

Under the theme “taking a byte out of crime”, the Regional Management Office, in collaboration with Monroe College, will be conducting a series of workshops on cyber crime investigation. According to Regional Administrative Officer, Marie-Jose Edwards, this workshop being hosted under the SFA 2005 program and funded by the European Union. She further stated the workshop aims at building competence in many areas including ICT legislation and Prosecutorial issues.

Meantime, Capacity Building Expert, Mr. Cletus Bertin, mentioned that at the commencement of this project, the Government of Dominica had already put in place legislation to tackle the problem. He says he is thrilled to be working in partnership with the Monroe College as professors Miranda and McDonald major in criminal justice and have shown great improvement in the law enforcement in St. Lucia. Mr. Bertin made known the goal of this project and its expectations for the future.

Commissioner of Police Mathias Lestrade told the press that together with the Minister of National Security there will be zero tolerance of any kidnapping here in Dominica or persons setting up road blocks. He lamented that both of these offenses infringes on the rights of other people and is reason enough to be punished by the law.

The commissioner highlighted that Dominica is known to be a peaceful island throughout the Caribbean and the world. Therefore, it would be unfortunate if that image is tarnished because of the actions of ruthless lawbreakers. However, he is happy to report that two of the men responsible for the kidnapping incident were taken into custody by the Dominica Police Force.

Mr. Lestrade further added that he is going to do all within his power to ensure that this doesn’t happen again especially because both of these activities are federal offenses.

By Marisa Stedman-Q95fm News.

Minister of National Security Mr. Rayburn Blackmoore addressed the public at a press conference last week on the issue of ever-increasing violence in Dominica. The minister said that in an attempt to combat this problem the Government of Dominica has assured the Dominica Police Force that they will be supplied with all of the resources needed, including the implementation of forensic science to lead to a speedy resolution.

However, the question arises on multiple occasions, is the problem targeted at the source? According to numerous callers on the hot seat, the preponderance of criminal activity are the common practices of young persons, some still attending secondary school? Members of the public have therefore suggested that greater awareness be given to the youth and the predicaments that employ them in such volatile activity. As one caller suggested, the Government should put into operation school rehabilitation programs that will be aimed at those students who have already engaged in criminal offenses or are likely to do so.

Thus by taking a keen interest in the concerns and adversities of the youth a practical approach can be employed to mitigate the problem of violence in Dominica.

The Ross University security staff recently received specialized training by the Police Training School at Morne Bruce, Roseau.

Five shift supervisors and 25 officers were trained in a week-long intensive course that covered among other points, the responsibility of security officers, how to respond to threats, search procedures, arrest techniques, report writing, patrolling, and consideration of evidence.

The training will enable the officers to enhance the security of the campus and protect its staff and students in the most professional manner possible. As new officers are hired they too will receive the same training.

Police Chief Mathias Lestrade told the Hot Seat this morning that morale in the police force is not low and a lot of the policing are much better than it was some years ago. His statement was made in response to allegations of low morale in the Dominica Police Force.

The Commissioner believes that implementation of Community Policing is a step in the right direction, and although that concept has been under discussion for some five years now, he hopes to see full and meaningful implementation very soon, accompanied by positive results in community awareness, community participation and crime reduction.

Do you think that the community police program will reduce the number of crimes in Dominica? What your say!

A Mahaut man has been charged with the murder of Anita John of the same community.Anita was stabbed to death at her mother’s shop in Mahaut on Friday evening. Police say the incident occurred following a dispute between the man and the deceased.

The accused appeared before a Magistrate’s Court Monday.This is the fourth murder in less than four months.[dominicanewsonline.com]