Ascension : Police Report
Submitted by The Islander (Police Ascension) 15.10.2009 (Article Archived on 29.10.2009)
There has been some concern expressed in relation to last week’s Police Report in the Islander.
POLICE REPORT
THE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR THE POLICE IS:
6666
This number is staffed 24/7 if it is a genuine emergency please use it.
Just because there is not a Police Officer in the Police Station it does not mean there are no officers on duty.
There has been some concern expressed in relation to last week’s Police Report in the Islander. The report was intended to create awareness of proposed changes in legislation to lower the drink drive limit. The article in its self was centred primarily on a road death, which was totally fictitious and was designed to draw attention to the law as it currently stands on Ascension at the moment. The article was not intended to criticise any individual or group of people. It was not intended to offend anyone, only to stimulate debate
The detachment has received positive comments in respect of this article, however the point has been made that the police are there to enforce the law and to be non- political. It has also been pointed out that the article could be seen as an attempt to influence public opinion before legislation has been changed if indeed that is the outcome. Improvements in legislation and procedures are often debated at the Court Users Group and that is the correct forum for the Police to influence change of this type.
Whilst the police feel strongly that the drink drive limit should be lowered in an effort to reduce road deaths and injury and that a disqualification from driving should be for every class of vehicle we also accept the point that maybe we should not take the lead in lobbying for legislative change.
However now the debate has been started, we do look forward to support from the public and other professional bodies in order to bring about what we believe is necessary change to make Ascension a safer place for everyone.
Last week Mr Nigel Peters of Travellers Hill was convicted in the Magistrates Court and sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment. Prisoner Peters on the 14th October was repatriated to St Helena. Under the supervision of Sergeant Sismey he was escorted back. He will serve the remainder of his sentence at H.M. Prison.
Reg Williams
Inspector of Police
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