Outgoing Commissioner of Police, Winston James says that drugs, housebreaking, stealing and violent offenses continue to be a major concern to the force.

Addressing members of the local media at a press conference on Tuesday, the Commissioner said that 80% of the crimes committed on the island are related to those issues .

He was flanked by Acting Deputy Commissioner, Raymond Charles; and Assistant Commissioners of Police, Smith Roberts, and Dowlyn Barthlomew.

James spoke of a major rise in the level of youth violence particularly in St George¹s and Grenville in St. Andrew¹s. He said that more and more young men are walking the streets armed with cutlasses, ice pricks and knives and causing injuries to others resulting in some of them being hospitalised.

He stated that although a number of persons have been arrested for committing the crimes these incidents continue to take place in the country. The commissioner warned that "the Royal Grenada Police Force will not stand by and allow these attitudes to take over the communities".

According to James, it appears that the young men in Grenada are engaged in a war with one another but assured the public that the police force will continue to work closely with them to bring some level of peace to communities.

He made mention of situation in the Grand Mal area where a football competition is taking place and almost every afternoon law enforcement officials have to be sent there to keep the peace. "We cannot continue like that, we cannot send policemen to every football and cricket competitions" he said.

The Chief Cop called on the population to assist RGPF to bring back some level of peace in the society. Commissioner James assured the local media that the police force is continuing to deal with police officers who are bent on bringing the force into disrepute. "I assure that we will do all we can to get rid of those involved", he remarked.

In recent weeks, no less than four police officers including a key member of the Security Detail around Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell have been charged and brought to court for breaking the law.
James also used the occasion to issue a stern warning to those who are bent on committing violent acts on members of the force.

"We are continuing to say no to police brutality but on the other hand we will not sit by and allow any act of violence against our men and women, they are working too hard out there and they must be respected," he said.

Commissioner James also commented on the unsolved murder case involving 17 year old Skitta Edgar of La Poterie, St Andrew¹s whose body was found at her home with several wounds. He said that RGPF had sent certain exhibits to the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for assistance.

In addition, members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) are continuing to work tirelessly to bring closure to this matter. Commissioner James appealed to the general public to continue giving support to the police in order to help them solve the case.

James urged every peace-loving Grenadian, Church-goers, lawyers, politicians and members of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO¹s) to assist the police and do not only wait until the occasion suits them to come out and condemn the police.