Sending a message warning friends about a police roadblock might seem harmless, but police say the same alert could help someone with an illegal firearm or other contraband avoid getting caught.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is cautioning members of WhatsApp and other social media groups against sharing the locations of police operations. The force warns that no one can know who may receive the information or how it could be used.
The warning came from Assistant Superintendent Terry Bradley, the new Commander of the Special Services Unit (SSU), during a police press conference on Thursday.
Bradley acknowledged that people sharing “roadblock” alerts might not mean any harm. In some cases, he said, someone may simply want to help a friend or another motorist avoid getting a traffic ticket.
But the consequences, he warned, could be much more serious.
He explained that someone carrying an illegal firearm or other contraband could receive the alert and change their route, abandon a vehicle, dispose of the weapon or otherwise avoid coming into contact with police.
That weapon, Bradley warned, could later be used to commit a serious crime.
“So what may appear to be a harmless message by just saying the police are at a location can be a potential interference with a lawful police activity,” he said.
Bradley therefore appealed to the public to refrain from sharing the locations of officers conducting traffic checks and other police operations.
His message formed part of a wider warning as he takes command of the SSU. Bradley assured the public that the unit is committed to helping the police force fight crime and made it clear that people wanted by police will be pursued.
“We will not surrender our country to you. We will not surrender our communities to you,” he told criminals.
“If you commit a crime, you should expect the police to investigate that crime. If you are wanted, we will look for you. If you are found, you will be dealt with through the law and the justice system.”
