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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos July 28, 2020 Turks and Caicos young men are killing each other and the majority of serious crime is linked to turf or gang wars according to Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor who on Monday (July 26) addressed the nation in a message capturing the highlights of his first year in the post.

Beyond the sadness when a memberof our society is a victim of crime who has no association whatsoever with theworld Ive just described indeed has lived their life standing against thissort of nihilism the horrible truth is that our young men are killing eachother; increasingly the victim knows the perpetrator and visa-versa, explainedGovernor Dakin.

Crime statistics for 2019 remain unpublished, but in the Governors presentation there is strong indication that upward trends in violence remain vexing. His Excellency said 70 percent of serious crime victims were under the age of 30; that 95 percent of those victims were men and 90 percent of the violent crime involved a firearm.

Retaliatory crime is driving these disturbing trends and the Governor, who heads National Security shared, We increasingly observe that even those seriously injured in attacks, often as collateral to a murder victim who they are associated with, choose not to provide the Police with a statement.

Governor Dakin is an avid Instagram user with over 4,350 followers. During his remarks, a peppered perspective on what could alleviate the seeming surge in crime was shared.

A regularcontributor to my Instagram account therefore quite reasonably asked yesterdayfor timelines as to when she could expect changes. This was my response: Almost immediately if public outrage about crimeconverted to the public providing information about crime in equal measure

Nearly 30 new members added to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police was touted to bring concrete changes in public trust of the Force and investigative capabilities.

serious financial investments made in Policing bythe Premier, at the recommendation of the Commissioner, should start to be feltthis year that includes community policing which helps provide the confidencethe public need if they are to support the Police. In the last 12 months 27 locally recruitedofficers have been trained for six months overseas and they are now back withus and ready to serve.

Investigative specialists have also been identified, and with funding support from the United Kingdom, two Superintendents will embark on a two year stint in the Turks and Caicos as part of the Tactical Unit.

Both are tough and knowledgeable in detecting homicide they will jointhe Force, mentor and support their TCI colleagues who will replace them in twoyears, and report to the local Police Executive Leadership.

Appointed tothe newly created post in January, the Permanent Secretary of National Securityis fixed on crafting a long term remedy, which is expected to do in the Turks andCaicos, what it has done for other overseas territories including Bermuda.

Bermudamanaged, through intervention, to reduce its murder count in 2019 to zero.

Those that have properly got to grips with crime(Bermuda and Glasgow are great examples) have brought crime down in a sustainedway. They however have found that is a 10-year programme. The National SecurityPermanent Secretary is pulling together, for the Premier, the programmatic disciplinesthis approach needs, said the Governor on Monday.

Ninety percent of murders are recorded in Providenciales, which is the economic hub of the country; yet the Governor was resolute that for tourists, the islands are safe.

As we unpack and understand the figures, this therefore remains an incredibly safe tourist destination; but thats certainly not the case if you are a young man living in Providenciales who is running with the wrong people.

According to Magnetic Media records, there were 13 homicides in 2019 and 12 people murdered so far, in 2020.

See original here:

Turf Wars and Tight Lips fuelling violent crime in TCI, says Governor in Year One report - Magnetic Media