The dialogue with law enforcement agencies has started and already the people of the district are recommending further discussions to the town hall meeting that was hosted there by the police on 15th November.

Police officials in the Public Relations Department have revealed that the residents of McKnight were very responsive to the town hall meeting and requested a follow-up dialogue before the end of the year.

The police Inspector in charge of the meeting, Lyndon David, urged the McKnight residents to remember that crime prevention is everyone’s business and he told them that, ”If you see something, say something.”

David is Head of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Community Policing Initiative, and he said the meeting was part of the Community Policing initiative which seeks to bridge the gap between the police and the community. During the meeting the Police sought input from the community on how best the police can serve their public safety concerns. The community was also introduced to Mr. Veron Lake, Spokesman for the upcoming Crime Stoppers Program, which will be launched in December 2012.

Mr. Lake emphasized that Crime Stoppers is aimed at providing the community with a free phone number to call Canada to anonymously report crime tips. The caller does not have to give their name and if the tip leads to an arrest, the tip caller could be eligible for a reward even if it was an old crime that was committed or one that is going to be committed.

McKnight is one of the areas where efforts have been made to reduce crime by providing alternatives to gang and violence lifestyles through the implementation of the hydroponic farm program, increased police presence, and the Magic (Mentoring, Advising, Guiding, and Instructing our Children) program.

The MAGIC program which was authorized by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Department of Education is a program used in Orange County Florida, USA. It is a proven alternative to drugs, gangs, and guns aimed at reducing violence among the children of our Federation. The program which costs US$15,000 a year, per school, was donated to the Federation because of a Sister-Agency relationship created by Police Commissioner CG Walwyn.

Crime has fallen in the Federation 55% for October and 59% from January to October this year over the same period last year.