A series of robberies has been causing increasing concern for law enforcement on the small island of Antigua.
To address this issue, 17 officials, including top officials from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Organization of National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP), the Fire Department, and an IT Specialist collaborating with law enforcement, met with the Cabinet.
The meeting focused on the noticeable rise in robberies committed by young males and other crimes involving firearms.
As disclosed in the Cabinet report, the Police Commissioner emphasized that while it’s challenging to quantify prevented crimes, patrols and ‘Stop-and-Search’ operations by the Police and Military serve as a deterrent.
There is a growing trend of younger individuals turning to crime and targeting easier-to-rob victims in the country.
It was unanimously agreed that comprehensive data analysis is crucial to determine the most effective strategy moving forward.
During a post-Cabinet press briefing, Cabinet spokesman Lionel Hurst highlighted the potential use of AI software to analyse various features, including body size, for identifying potential suspects.
Additionally, there are plans for collaboration between the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board and the Police to provide access to owner information linked to vehicle plate numbers.
Hurst stated, “The transport board has a virtual monopoly on identifying the plates and licenses for people who are caught disobeying the law and what the police required was continuous use of the database after work hours and I believe we got the approval to allow this to happen.”
In terms of security, measures have been put in place for the upcoming SIDS4 conference, ICC T20 World Cup, and Carnival 2024 to deter criminal activities, Cabinet also revealed.
The IT Specialist further assured the public that the surveillance cameras are operational and that the monitors are actively displaying real-time events.
