Antigua and Barbuda

Partly Cloudy
81°F
High: 83°F
Low: 78°F
 

Police Displeased By Media Leak

Road check

The police are upset that word of a covert joint-operation in St John‘s on Friday was leaked to the media the day before.

Scores of police, soldiers, and traffic wardens lined the streets of St John’s from the morning rush hours to late afternoon as part of a purported routine check.

But sources told Caribarena.com that media outlets were tipped off about the plans since Thursday, which put the lawmen's lives at risk. There were also unofficial reports that the strong security presence was to deter any spontaneous criminal activity in relation to the Appeals Court hearing. However, that was denied by official police sources.

It so happened that as soon as the police launched their spot checks, alerts went out via social networking sites, text messaging, and BlackBerry services warning people to be prepared.Road check

According to official police sources, the alerts were enough to caution criminals to "play it safe," and this hampered the operation's effectiveness.

Throughout the day, several vehicles were pulled from among snaking lines of traffic and  subjected to thorough inspections. The officials could also be seen removing excessive tints and reprimanding drivers for vehicle licence violations.

Caribarena.com learned that the sting operation was also an attempt to intercept other forms of illegal activity like possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and drugs.

The police, in a statement on Friday, notified the media of the operation but said further details would be provided at the end of the procedure.


Caribarena.com was later informed by the Strategic Communications Division that they had tagged and confiscated 47 unlicensed vehicles, removed tints from 37, and taken four people into custody – two on drug related offences and two for unspecified traffic violations.

 

Hits: 1317

8 Comments In This Article   

HEADER   

Where are they

#8 alp to the bone » 2010-07-03 12:44

Why do the ALP need to speak on the whaling issue? The ALP is not in power. The Ambassador to Japan needs to tell us if he got monies from the Government of Antigua for his accommodation and per diem and still got money from the Japanese for the same purpose. The Ambassador needs to tell us whether he was bribed.
0
0
+
−

alp to the bone

#7 jill » 2010-07-03 10:14

Why would the police department have traffic checks in the morning during rush hour? Why were the soldiers on scene? Aren't the police officers armed? I think that was poor operational planning in the first place. I am not saying that it is wrong for the police to do traffic stops in the city. I worked a police dept in Florida and most traffic checks were done mostly at nights, on weekends, and especially on holiday weekends. The police were at a strategic location which they called squeeze lanes. Any driver going through the squeeze lanes in any direction were stopped and a crimial check would be done. Sometimes people who had DUI, outstanding warrants, suspended licenses, no insurance, illegal aliens, those with guns, iilegal drugs etc.were arrested. I commend the police department for taking such steps, but they should do this operation at a different time of day. Antiguans drivers need to be kept in chek
0
0
+
−

jill

Police Displeased By Media Leak

#6 smoke » 2010-07-03 07:36

This is how the stop and search exercise should got, a team consist of the the following personnel eight (8) ABRPF officers, four (4) ABDF officers and two (2) ABTB Wardens. they will go all over the island and set up road block any where and stay as long as they feel it necessary and this should directed by the men on the ground
0
0
+
−

smoke

Disbelief?

#5 Silent Observer » 2010-07-03 04:31

Are we now figuring out there are some serious leaks with in the RABPF?? It has been going on for time...They need to be weeded out.
0
0
+
−

Silent Observer

STUPID

#4 LMAO » 2010-07-03 01:38

THIS was such an idiotic exercise... the so called strategic points could be easily avoide by turning a block higher or lower than the check points. What you expect..don't you think black people knows how to use technology too. HAd it been the other way..it would have been said that not even a phone was used to inform friends and families.

Now I have black tint on the rear window on my car. I was told to remove it. My fiance was on the back seat breast feeding my 10 month old son. Wasn't it obvious that a well dressed mannered gentle/professi on man on his way to work with his family in the back seat need the light tint for that purpose???????

Really the take the bottom of the list to be these officers..and the soldiers with big long gun at a police search? What are we heading for war of a dictatorship??? ??
0
0
+
−

LMAO

a wha ya

#3 joe joe » 2010-07-03 00:30

I could not have stated it any better. This was an exercise in appearing to do something and not a really serious exercise to nab the big criminals in society.
0
0
+
−

joe joe

#2 Where are they » 2010-07-02 23:31

Does the cat have the tongues of the ALPites on the issue of whaling? They are frighteningly silent. Hmmmmmmmm Wonder why?
0
0
+
−

Where are they

New Police approaches needed

#1 Ah Wha Ya » 2010-07-02 23:28

Traditional police techniques ane now antiquated and in need of review. With modern communication platforms of cell phones, texting and internet traditional stop and search can never again be as effective. The continued use of these anachronistic and archaic methods bring into question the effectivenes of the Canadian police high command who we we told would modernise the force.
A police check during the 8:00am rush hour is backward and serves no other purpose than affecting industry and commerce and productivity.
T he presence of the military is not only unnecessary but it is also illegal and clearly intended to intimidate the public at a time when our approach should be an encouragement of colloboration and partnership between civilians and our uniformed officers. This big gun show is the norm in Central and South America and need not be brought into our country. At any rate, why would we need to have soldiers with big guns during a simple traffic check during the morning rush hour? Just picture the scene if something went wrong.......... ............... .innocent motorists and onlookers could be the victims. Food for thought
0
0
+
−

Ah Wha Ya

Add comment

World News

Follow us on Facebook

Spotlight on Business

Previous Next
Social Media Exposes Illegal Workers
Antigua St. John's - The saga of illegal workers at Il Giardino, the fine dining...  Read more

Latest Police News

Search Directory


Directory Listings


Modern Interiors

    Established in December 2008, offering Antigua a difference in Home Interior Products. We carry items and gifts for the living room, ...



Little B & J

  LITTLE B and J Auto parts and Accessories Located on the Herberts Main Road is your one stop source for all you auto parts needs.Our kind and ...


App

Android LogoDownload Caribarena's Android App Click To Download

Find us on Twitter!