About the same number of respondents to last week’s cayCompass.com think the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service performance during the past year is great or much better as the number who think its performance was terrible or somewhat worse during the same period.
The largest segment of the 470 total respondents – 160 people or 34 per cent – thought the RCIPS’ performance was about the same as it was before.
“Too much time spent on things like seat belts and not enough time spent on the robbery epidemic,” said one person. “They need to get their priorities right.”
“They were incompetent before, they’re incompetent now,” said another person. “If there’s a more incompetent police force in the world, I haven’t found it.”
“The RCIPS still needs to improve a whole lot,” said someone else. “More foot and car patrols are needed around George Town and other districts and communities to help to discourage and prevent crime. The police need to act and move much, much faster than what they do as their response time is not satisfactory. Time is of essence when it comes to catching the criminals and protecting the public. It is absolutely necessary that they step up to the plate.”
“I think more Caymanians should be working as police officer in the Cayman Islands,” said one person. “If you are not a … native Caymanian, you should not be a police officer. It’s simple; if you wasn’t born in these Caymanian Islands, you shouldn’t be a police officer. If you are not a native and is a police officer here in the Cayman Islands, you are nothing to me. I don’t see you, I don’t want to know you, and you better keep your distance.”
The second largest segment of respondents – 125 people or 26.6 per cent – thought the RCIPS’ performance was much better during the past year.
“Granted, doing much better than what they were doing isn’t necessarily saying a lot, but at least it’s progress,” said one person.
“It is unfortunate that the RCIPS does not receive more public support from the elected government,” said someone else. “But at least the MLAs are not attacking and criticising as they have in the past, albeit brought on by the UK’s penchant for launching bumbling, Inspector Clouseau-like wild goose chases periodically. Someone in the UK needs to be held accountable for these fiascos and our elected officials need to set an example for all as law-abiding citizens. This is a start to help out the RCIPS in their unenviable job to serve and protect all of us.”
“Especially the RCIPS helicopter,” said another respondent.
Fifteen people – 3.2 per cent – thought the RCIPS has done a great job over the past year.
“I just had an awesome week on the East End at Morritt’s,” said one person. “I went out and about with every confidence, felt 100 per cent safe in local bars, restaurants, take out and driving late at night. Thank you all for a great time.”
Another large segment of respondents – 107 people or 22.8 per cent – thought the RCIPS’ performance during the past year was terrible.
“The only thing they appear comfortable with is traffic accidents,” said one person.
“Those guys can’t catch a cold, let alone a criminal,” said someone else.
“They hire as consultants former officers the current police department knows … have taken advantage of others,” said another respondent. “Not the example I want in a police department.”
“A lot of the cops misuse their authority and abuse the citizens of this country in many ways,” commented one person.
“They never come out when called,” said someone else.
Thirty-eight people – 8.1 per cent – thought the RCIPS had performed somewhat worse than previously.
“I had a car stolen, recovered not by them,” said one person. “Dealing with them was a frustrating experience in incompetence, systems that don’t work and not caring. We are in trouble if anything really bad happens to us.”
“The RCIPS has not deployed any new policing as many very successful police departments around the world have,” said someone else. “Additionally, the hiring practice of the RCIPS remains very poor. Too many officers cannot read and write.”
Next week’s poll question
How long do you think package liquor stores should be allowed to stay open?
All should be able to stay open until 7pm
All should be able to stay open until 10pm
7pm in George Town, up to 10pm in other districts
Other [write suggestion in comments]
I don’t care
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As time progresses and taking into account the enormity of the crime situation, we will see more favourable reports for the police.
As a daily reader of the online Compass edition, I’ve noted with keen interest the crime situation becoming more and more under control. I think the main problem was that crime was allowed to escalate before serious remedial action was brought to address the situation.
Obviously, a little more can always be expected to fully assure the public at large that things are better now than before. Bearing in mind that some people will always have a somewhat negative view of law enforcemnt for personal or other reasons. However, if honest statistics are maintained and the results are self-evident, then who can argue about progress?