A director of the Nassau Tourism Development Board has endorsed the decision of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to restructure policing efforts centered on popular tourist venues in northern New Providence.
The move essentially means the dismantling of what had become known as the Tourism Police Unit, whose base of operations was on Bay Street and the re-absorption of the officers into mainstream policing in the downtown Nassau area.


According to Frank Comito, executive director of the board, he was relieved that the police force was not thoroughly scrapping the idea of tourism policing.


"The police have indicated very strong support for ensuring the safety of our visitors and, in fact, trying to boost up the efforts of tourism policing," he said.


"One of the biggest factors in [tourists] deciding where to [travel] is peace of mind and it’s very important that we give people every bit of assurance that The Bahamas is a safe place to visit, relax, and enjoy themselves."


Mr. Comito expressed confidence and satisfaction in the level of support from the police and commended their plan to improve and restructure tourism policing efforts.


"We’re 100 percent behind it," he said. "We believe the police are 100 percent behind tourism policing…There’s been some restructuring but the police can better address exactly what they’re doing. They are moving to improve the effort as we are partners with them as well."


Many of the officers who were assigned to the Tourism Police Unit were being trained in general police duties in order to be redeployed as full time police officers. Others have been reassigned to other areas within the police force.


"What is happening now is that when these squads come out, [following training] we will supplement the Bay Street unit, and we will supplement the Downtown unit, so that we can have adequate police protection and presence in the downtown corridor to provide the service," Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna explained.


Each new squad that enters the police force consists of 30 officers, and two new squads are due to graduate soon.


Mr. Hanna lauded the work of the unit.


In the past, there had been major complaints about petty theft, drug peddling, purse snatching and other crimes committed in the downtown Nassau area.



Read the rest of the story by Myles Adderley here