“State of Emergency part of a greater plan to address gang violence,” says Police Commissioner

By BBN Staff: Police are currently locking up gang members under the State of Emergency declared by Statutory Instrument #90 of 2021, and will be in jail for 30 days, during which time, according to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, investigations will be conducted to bring other charges against them.

William said that the objective of detaining over 50 known gang members under the SOE, is to allow investigative teams room to gather evidence to make more meaningful charges which can result in longer sentences upon conviction.

“Hopefully witnesses will be more comfortable speaking considering that these figures are in prison and should be able to allow us to make that arrest,” Williams said.

He went on to say that the GI3 (formerly the Gang Suppression Unit – GSU) will also be investigating those detained under the powers of the SOE to see if they can be charged under the anti-gang section of the Сrіmе Соntrоl аnd Сrіmіnаl Јuѕtісе Асt.

“We have developed case files on a number of them, and so it is just a matter of getting more evidence to be able to charge some of them under the gang legislation,” Williams added.

He noted that 24 people have been detained under the SOE provisions thus far.

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