‘Expect hard and soft policing to deal with crime’

Scores of Bagaloo Trace residents, who turned up for the meeting, promised the Acting Commissioner that they will support him in his initiative, but some of them openly criticised officers of the Central Division claiming the officers did not treat them as law-abiding citizens and opted to use a hard approach of policing instead of partnering with them. Williams informed residents that effective immediately, the soft approach as well as the hard approach will be adopted and he will return to the area to get a feedback from residents to ascertain if they continue to be disgruntled over the way they are being treated by officers of the Central Division.

The Acting Commissioner also thanked the residents for looking out for their neighbours in the community and noted that it was the responsibility of every resident to reclaim the community from the hands of criminal elements.

He also noted that both foot and mobile patrols have been increased in the area and believed that this has also contributed to the decrease in serious crime.