The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has unveiled its first mobile police station, which will be operational 24/7 as part of the ongoing efforts to combat rising crime, particularly in the city of Castries.
The mobile station is strategically positioned at Heroes Park on the waterfront, near the cruise ship terminal, to enhance safety for both residents and tourists.
In recent years, tourists visiting Castries have been frequent targets of criminal activity, including robberies. The opening of the mobile police station aims to address these concerns by ensuring a visible and responsive police presence in high-traffic areas.
Speaking at the launch on Monday morning, Inspector Bridget Algadel, head of the Community Policing Unit, emphasised the station’s significance: “This mobile police station is a bold step to address the cries of the public. It is fully functional and manned 24/7, ready to serve wherever needed.”
She noted the collaboration between the Central Police Station, the Special Services Unit (SSU), and the Marine Unit in making this initiative a reality.
The mobile station offers a range of services, including report filing and traffic department support. Additionally, drones will provide 24-hour surveillance, and ATVs will be deployed from the site for enhanced mobility.
Inspector Lucius Small of the SSU reiterated the unit’s commitment to maintaining security around the mobile station and the wider city: “We are out there in full force to ensure that both citizens and visitors enjoy the beauty and safety of Saint Lucia.”
The RSLPF explained that the mobile station can be redeployed to other locations as needed, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the island.
Great new initiative I think there should be one placed in Gros Islet for Friday nights and a couple more strategically placed and synchronized around the island. They can be present at big events, shows @ pigeon island, Darren Sammy cricket grounds as well!. Please more ATV’s…
Great initiative. But my criticism is that this is located in the wrong area. Firstly, you can’t pack this vehicle on such a beautiful green space near the waterfront…it will damage the green space…as the photo is already showing damage to the green space. Secondly, the location is not conducive to stopping traffic as this road is a major route into and out of the city….you will only cause congestion in that area. Thirdly, you will need more of these mobile units at strategic parts of the city which will essentially cover all roads in and out of the city. For example, one unit around the millennium highway, one unit covering Marchand, one unit covering entry and exit to Gros Islet, one unit covering Calvery road… totally surrounding the city. Then have officers on ATVs and bicycles flood the city. By doing so you will catch any criminal who would commit any crime, making it difficult for them to escape. However, to have a society that is less crime ridden, you need to start with the home. We need families that are functional, who raise children to be respectful, cherish civil society, education leading to a path of successful employment. Start there and society will be better for it.
Good stuff. But why not station it at the entrance of Conway? Seem like locals don’t need protection.
The amount of times I have said on here to institute rapid response units with real time communication, but I hope this will not be on the waterfront because this is not where its meant to be.
This is quite a short term solution. This has the same effect with police patrolling in groups of three.
We need solutions which will be proactive and reactive at the same time. The criminals are no longer high school drop outs. They are the folks who are much smarter than those in authority.
What a great initiative. In my line of work we call this setup the M.O.R.G, Mobile Recon Group. I remember 10 years ago I was back home and had a conversation with a high raking officer (no names) and recommended that to him as a tool in the tool box to fight crime. At the time there was no political appetite to do this. It is so reassuring to see that someone is thinking outside the box. This setup, if resourced properly will provide officers with many capabilities.
First it will provide a forward enhanced presence to deter criminals. Note , it will not stop them but it will make them aware that there may an immediate response to the actions.
Second it will instil confidence in the public and police officers which is an underrated crime fighting tool.
Third , it will give credibility to the law. You commit crime we are equally committed to catching you. But, the courts must play their part in delivering swift justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.
The addition of drones to this forward enhanced presence should not be underrated, but these drones must be airborne 24/7 to have a real impact backed by real time analysis, not 2 days later.
It must be backed with with a QRF (quick reaction force) because there is no point having drone footage and no follow up. And this QRF needs to tooled up with some serious firepower with officers who have grit , determination and hunger to catch and where necessary erase these criminals.
Good job, keep pushing RSPLF.
Now do the same with the mobile hospital!
When is the high ranks going to stop all this BS why is it once a year you to all that crap who do they think that they a fooling all year round is crime crime crime and hear comes Christmas and they a finding kind of equipment to put on the road to say they a fighting crime that is BS and I am not afraid to say loud and bold so what happens after the season what becomes of the equipment and the so call crime initiatives and then later to tell me about statistics one set of crap , I will tell you all some thing each and every police man and woman got to apply themselves and don’t wait for the Cop and the others to tell you what to do , the same inspectors giving instructions a the very same ones you see moon lighting for colorful Fridays all the ATVs and new vehicles where do you see them park ? All they is just unnecessary fuel don’t see the police mom foot patrol yes only in the day what happens after dark choops Mr COP you and your team not ready yet
I am tired with you guys this is police and politics all the way , please give us a break why would you guys put a mobile station there what a you guys thinking about a you sitting on your brains, where a the traffic offices for the highway patrol will there be any traffic officers patrolling the highways for the festive season ? I won’t if the traffic police will be able to effectively arrest and detain drunken drivers , I wonder how many road accidents they will be able to
Minimize because of effective highway patrols is there the availablability of a vehicle pound to remove and secure unlicensed and uninsured vehicles of the road this festive season I we I’ll be waiting and watching to see
You can have all the police ATVs and police motorcycles and the officers a not committed and dedicated it’s a bloody waste of time it’s all about the P P P and organized crime The Public The police and The Politicians there’s your answer