Vincentians can view home and business security fixtures via a Virtual Crime Prevention Exhibition. The Virtual Crime Exhibition Week, hosted by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), is available via their social media platforms. The RSVGPF Crime Prevention Unit launched this initiative as part of their annual Crime Prevention Week of activities albeit in a different medium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition is being held under the theme: “Securing Citizens and Visitors Through Innovative Policing”.
In his welcome and opening remarks, Assistant Superintendent and Head of the Public Relations and Complaints Department, Junior Simmons, described the COVID-19 pandemic as creating challenges and opportunities. Simmons alluded to the past Crime Prevention Week exhibits that were open to members of the public for viewing whereas now “we have transformed ourselves and we are adapting to technology and we utilise this platform to continue to safeguard our citizens.”
Commissioner of Police, Colin John, expressed his support for the Virtual Crime Prevention Exhibition Week and wished it every success. Commissioner John thanked all those who spearheaded and supported the launch of the initiative. “The fact that we have COVID-19, this COVID pandemic in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, well, COVID pandemic, generally, does not mean that criminals; they are not trying to capitalise on this opportunity to commit crimes so we have too be proactive,” the Commissioner of Police stated.
Superintendent of Police and Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Clauston Francis, emphasised the importance of crime prevention. To this end, he appealed to the public for their support in crime prevention. “We need your support… We are concerned about your safety,” the Head of the CID disclosed. Francis said that the CID is the “engine that drives the Crime Prevention Unit of the RSVGPF. He expressed thanks to all partners and corporate bodies for responding to their invitation and for their support in making the exhibition possible, and to the staff of the Public Relations and Complaints Department.
Participants in the Virtual Crime Exhibition Week are as follows: CID Department, Information Technology Unit, and ACE Hardware. The Exhibition was launched on Monday, July 6th, 2020, at the RSVGPF headquarters.