By Elesha George
Amid a troubling spate of robberies across Antigua, many involving firearms, public concern is growing over the effectiveness of current police strategies. The law enforcement community has pledged to enhance their crime-fighting efforts, but from the public’s perspective, these measures appear insufficient.
Wendel Alexander, a prominent attorney and former police commissioner, is urging law enforcement to adopt a more assertive approach to curbing the robberies, which have primarily targeted small business owners.
“The police might have to be more aggressive in their approach and may have to make a certain statement. Not necessarily a written or public statement but a certain statement,” he said.
He specifically recommends implementing “effective patrol” strategies in areas most affected by these crimes.
“They seem to be targeting business people that are in certain areas, small businessmen in particular and we have to look at the confines of the area and we need to nip it.
“It seems as though the criminals feel that they can be more brazen,” he said, warning that the few who commit to doing these crimes need to be dealt with promptly.
Alexander himself is taking a no-nonsense approach and shared that he is considering refusing to represent clients who commit aggravated robbery and “other senseless crimes”.
“My workload is getting heavy. I have quite a number of civil and constitutional matters to contemplate on and so therefore, though I think my help is needed in criminal matters, I might be selective as to how I’m going to approach those matters, particularly aggravated robberies,” he explained.
While Alexander acknowledged that the rise in crime could be linked to economic pressures that drive some individuals to commit offences, he insists that this does not excuse the number of brazen daylight robberies.
He called on the police to reassess their strategies, identify weaknesses, and “nip it in the bud before it reaches a situation where it gets out of control”.
