Police seize gun used in five killings in Jamaica
(CNS): The RCIPS has seized a firearm in the Cayman Islands that was used in at least five murders in Jamaica, according to Police Commissioner Derek Byrne. Speaking to the local press on Wednesday, less than a week before he leaves the post, Byrne said one of the many enhancements he has presided over during the last seven years was the development of ballistics, and Cayman is now a regional hub for firearms forensics.
Since he took over the reins of the RCIPS, Byrne has presided over the most significant budgets in its history. But he told CNS that much has been done to make the service more professional, and the government has been very supportive of the security agenda.
He pointed to the development of various new departments, the acquisition of two state-of-the-art helicopters, the creation of the coastguard, dealing with the changing face of crime such as cyber scams and financial crime, the investment in dealing with child and domestic abuse, the professionalisation of the police and the development of forensic science work, including ballistics. All of this costs money, so it is not surprising that the budget has increased, he said.
But Byrne said that the enhancements of the service had led to significant successes, such as connecting this gun, which had made its way here and is now part of a major investigation, with the five killings in Jamaica dating back to 2019. He said that the relationship with Jamaica remains very important as this is where many of the guns found here originate, as well as being a source for most of the ganja and other drug shipments.
Over the last seven years, Byrne has presided over some serious crime spikes, including gun-related offences. But during his tenure, he has consistently argued that Cayman remains a relatively low crime jurisdiction. However, as he passes the baton to Commissioner Designate Kurt Walton, a career RCIPS officer, after fulfilling the succession plan goal to replace himself with a Caymanian, crime is still a concern following a summer marred by armed stick-ups at restaurants, gas stations and small grocery stores.
Two major issues for the commissioner during his tenure were the need to improve community policing and deal with traffic issues, especially the disproportionate amount of serious crashes. Byrne has led a successful expansion and solidification of community policing, but the traffic cops made little, if any, headway in reducing road collisions.
While Byrne and his officers have often criticised a section of the motoring public for the very poor standards of driving, the commissioner said “the sheer volume of traffic” is the biggest problem as it undermines the quality of people’s lives and fuels high levels of stress. He said the “road network was simply not designed to handle this volume of traffic”, and the impatience of drivers often causes accidents.
He said that there were far too many fatal and serious accidents on the roads, which has a real cost to the families involved and society more broadly. “We have issued a lot of tickets,” the commissioner noted but said some drivers have an illogical approach to the roads.
When it comes to community policing, Byrne has had more success, though he said the work done by beat officers is often intangible and hard to measure, such as resolving low-level conflicts and dealing with quality-of-life issues at the street level. “Not everything needs to have a penal code response,” Byrne said, but maintained that this work was all an important part of building the trust between the community and the RCIPS.
Persuading people to engage with and trust his officers has been an important part of the work he has done over the last seven years, he said. When he arrived Byrne had said the development of community policing was a priority for him, and while there is still more work to be done, he feels that much progress has been made.
He pointed out that in a largely unarmed police service, community policing was an essential tool for getting the public to give officers information to help them prevent and solve crimes.
Whether or not he has done a good job was for others to decide, he said, but he believes he had “never shied away” from the difficult things that had to be done and changes that had to be made. “I was committed to the task,” Byrne told the press. He said that he had challenged the status quo and was largely supported in that but when you are bringing about change, “you can’t please everyone”.
The commissioner said that he is leaving behind a different police service to the one he found and leaving it in the capable hands of Walton, who he was confident would take the RCIPS forward. But Byrne, who is returning to his native Ireland, said it was not easy “walking away from the Cayman Islands”, which he said was “a fabulous place” where he had worked with “some of the best men and women ever” in his career.
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Human Trafficking & Modern Day Slavery
https://cayman.loopnews.com/content/filipino-officials-visit-cayman-august-assist-filipinos-here
Are we importing crime to the Cayman Islands?
https://www.philippinesredcat.com/best-sex-massage-parlors-in-manila/
More than 200 years after the international slave trade was formally abolished, the terrible truth is there has never been a better time to sell a human life than today.
Business is booming for the criminals who engage in human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery, not just across Asia, Africa and the Americas, but in mainland Europe and across the Channel into Britain too.
Every day, traffickers are pushing desperate men, women and children into the hell of modern slavery in the knowledge that their crime is almost cost-free.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/06/business-human-traffickers-modern-slavery
HONG KONG
Widespread concerns over human trafficking stemming from cyberscam schemes in Southeast Asia have grown in China recently, after a hit Chinese film shed light on incidents in Myanmar, with the country’s now-tattered reputation likely making any return of Chinese tourists an uphill battle.
https://cayman.loopnews.com/content/philippines-labour-attache-concludes-fact-finding-mission-cayman
Crime action film “No More Bets,” which has topped the Chinese box office since its release in early August, offers an unprecedented peek into the intricate workings of cybercrime in Southeast Asia.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/09/04/asia-pacific/crime-legal/china-cambodia-myanmar-tourism-cyberscams-trafficking/
Chinese hit movie: No More Bets
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt28076784/
Outrage in India as government hikes taxes on online gaming to 28%
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/india-online-gaming-tax-hike-b2374600.html
The roads are a nightmare but when people with very limited intelligence are allowed access to cars / trucks, what can one expect? Going along South Sound last week a mini truck with gas canisters on the back… and the driver is on his mobile…. what could possibly go wrong?
So true. And is seems that most of these impaired motorists reside in that general area. A real shame for our islands.
Justice for Devonte!!!
Wonder if this firearm was the AK recently seized along with the 100 lbs of ganja?
Worse Police Commissioner in the opinion of everyone I know!
Even worse officers in West Bay malfunction Police farce. Like John Crow.
Wink at ganja without realizing the links to other crimes. Then brag if they find a random gun.
Trickle down incompetence from the law enforcement and security ministry and Private contractors.
Only mission is preserve glam facade overall, and protect SMB and South SD.
Those from Jam fixing that soon tho. Cayman gone bobo
There is not a “security ministry”. H.E. the Governor is in charge of the police force.
From Jamaica? Wow imagine that
“never shied away” from the difficult things that had to be done….unless it was breathalyzing Dwayne Seymour, or rather disciplining the officer that failed to do so. They expanded his budget and let him buy all the toys he wanted – but where the rubber meets the road, nothin changed – on fact it got worse. Violent crime far worse than when he took office, and you can count the successes of the anti corruption unit on the fingers of your left foot. Nice little pre pension capital building job for a ma who in his day was feared by organised crime in Ireland – sad end to a career, but I guess he will go off into the sunset telling himself it was successful because Cayman has 2 helicopters, even if they can’t do basic policing and any illusion that they may be politically impartial is in tatters.
feared by organised crime in Ireland ? ha, he was primarily in charge of traffic ( the irony isn’t lost)
He also presided over the most resignations in RCIP history. Experience has been replaced by a revolving door of young Caymanian recruits most of whom have not stayed in the service. That together with the absolute waste of time that is the PSC who simply do his bidding. And let’s not forget the genius of having police cars with their warning blue lights constantly illuminated to help criminals know when the police are coming.
The cars also have front facing red lights and blue brake lights!
Queue the “legalize weed and the guns will stop coming” comments.
This is completely false as boats are already coming carrying nothing but guns. Guns are more valuable and carry bigger profits for the trafficker’s.
Where the weapon is so is the person or persons who no doubt are using it with this knowledge in hand why is our “Gowernment” and the powers that be are not taking meaningful steps to address this foreign criminal menace that has now taken over our streets???? It appears to us that they either unwilling or unable to do so now, because of political economic and social reasons. Which says alot about who is really running these little islands. Caymanians chose not to take the path of independence in 1962 but Cayman and its people have now become independent of Cayman by being overrun and displace by those who’s countries are independent! Our ridiculous govt and its immigration policies needs to stop its bull$#@ now!
OH!so no ‘caymanians’ are criminals? You are all so full of it. The same ones who are jacking people up in town for money to buy food and turn around and use it to buy drugs are the same ones who come back and rod you when you refuse them. Good luck to your “ENTITLEMENT” attitude.
Ffs these comments were painful to read. both of you sound uneducated 😩 cayman is doomed if the comments on this site are any indication of the level of education around here 😥
Oh dear 804am are you referring to the same drugs and guns that your illegals bring here by canoe to poison other people society’s with .Go home you self righteous ras!
Good riddance.
impossible job for any commisioner…a force full of lazy, incompetent locals and jamaicans…..
all hired by him and his stellar judgment
Actually. Almost no locals at all.
Have you ever thought of joining the RCIPS? If no, why not because they could do with your expertise. Otherwise you need to stay in the backseat of your one seat car and be quiet.
I have served sorry ass people like you and you have not.
to 10.51 Racist. Why no mention of British officers?
Because the British officers are competent. They can actually read and write English.
Because the British officers are actually competent.
no respect for the police farce after the jon-jon incident.
Stop talking and dithering about and actually start enforcing the road rules. The culprits are right there for everyone to see every single day while they use the public roads as a personal racing track and put other’s lives at risk while they zig zag between cars. But the RCIPS just cast a blind eye to all of this and rather focus their attention on trying to catch out housewives or retirees on quiet side roads for going 30 in a 20 zone.
I am yet to see a police or traffic officer pull someone over for moving violations, such as erratic driving, weaving in traffic to gain a few car lengths advantage. No use of indicators, driving while texting/applying make-up, overloaded trucks and un-roadworthy vehicles….the list goes on.
This low hanging fruit is what makes for real change in driving habits.
One of the worst commissioners! The fact that he was unsuccessful more than once in getting the top job in his home force is telling. More personnel and vehicles and waste are some of his achievements plus a higher attrition of officers.
Very petty and vindictive, especially after failing to get an extension but he did manage to get himself upgraded to chief officer.
Whilst Commissioner Byrne has presided over some significant changes within RCIPS, one cannot lose sight of how he has steamrolled over his employees rights and welfare, resulting in being taken to court over issues relating to overtime and annual leave.
This issue is endemic in CIG as a whole, where lip service is paid to an employees welfare and employment rights, with Personnel Regulations and Public Service Management Law frequently circumvented by senior management to impose unfair / illegal conditions.
Until CIG puts the welfare and rights at the forefront of its priorities, the ‘world class’ label is just a joke.
But the acting Governor MR Franz Manderson says 93% satisfaction that directly contradicts what you are saying anon 9:20am Sound like you a BIG time whiner!
You’re obviously BIG time stupid – The 93% as reported by CMR relates to the HappyOrNot customer service feedback terminals and has nothing to do with employees!
Except the ones that press the buttons…
That comment, ladies and gentleman, sums it all up!
You can’t cure stupid!
Franz is a huge part of the problem. Lots of hot air but no positive action. All a farce.
The importance of road policing cannot be overstated.
The fix to idiotic driving that causes expensive investigations, and tears families apart, is relatively simple. Robust, frequent enforcement, by trained officers who are backed up by laws and resources that they need.
Drug, gun, and stolen goods transportation; if criminals thought there is a good chance of being stopped due to an ANPR system, they’d soon change their habits.
Revenue generating policing. The amount of vehicles with missing/inoperable/incorrectly used/illegal (looking at the clowns in Jeeps who drive with red LEDs at the front) lights is crazy. Police it, and enjoy the income from tickets, or it will actually change driver behavior when people check their vehicles once in a while.
The opportunity to control the streets would actually be a PR win for the RCIPS. It would be something most people would notice very quickly!
I agree with you, especially with regards to the revenue generating policy.
I see blatant disregard for the law, every single day. This is especially the case with the luxury cars (Tesla, Audi, etc) having no front licence plate and who instead place it inside their tinted windshield.
I understand that there are bigger fish to fry, but the police need to realise that it’s these examples of people believing that they are above the law that infuriate the general population. I have spoken to a person who said that they have been driving their Tesla for 2 years without a front plate, and they have NEVER been stopped by police for it.
Please Mr. Walton – these are the low hanging fruit with regards to revenue generating that all of us are tired of seeing get away with breaking the law!
The biggest problem Cayman are too easy on crime. Need STIFFER laws for criminals. Need laws a little like Singapore. But that will never happen. M P’s might lose votes.
If it doesn’t involve writing speeding tickets for five mph over the limit, then the RCIPS is not interested. It consists in being proactive. Something the RCIPS know nothing about, along with common sense.
Sadly, ANPR will not work locally as we do not have a delivery postal system with individual home addresses. (unbelievable in 2023!) The address linked to the number plate is only as current as the driver makes it. This is why automatic speeding fines will not work here, as the fines cannot be directly sent to the offender.
Partially true, but it could still be setup to flag uninsured vehicles, unlicensed vehicles, non-inspected vehicles, and vehicles registered to known offenders, or affiliates of. This could then help target traffic stops.
I mean, the infractions are there for all to see, but some easy red flags would make it even easier to pickup repeat offenders.
I see many vehicles license plates so faded can’t see the numbers that supposed to be on it. inspectors must be passing them like that and the police don’t care.
No mention of all the cyclists and pedestrians that were run down and seriously injured or killed because the NRA’s failure to deliver safe corridors for other transport modalities.
How is this nra failure attributed to the police? Smh
…and before that, probably dozens more in Latin America
Interesting to read that ‘most of the guns in Cayman originate in Jamaica’. They may come through Jamaica but virtually every single one is manufactured in the USA, where, in some states, buying a firearm has about the same restrictions as buying a packet of cigarettes.
Stop Deflecting and accept reasonability. They all pretty much arrive here from Jamaica, irrespective of where they were initially purchased or manufactured. End of story.
Not so sure about that manufacture comment – you look at the seized firearms, most seem to be very cheap Latin American manufactured knock offs.
Although it is an undeniable fact that guns made their way into Jamaica from the US many moons ago at the hands of corrupt Jamaican politicians.
“Crime remains stable on deez tree islands” zzZzzZzzzzZz
Both the police budget and crime have skyrocketed during his tenure, with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Good riddance, and good luck to the Caymanian replacing him; completely set up for failure.
Crime’s invisible man. Can’t entirely blame hm though, there is a high level of criminality in the Cayman population.
And to what extent might that be related to the high rate of criminality in the Jamaican population?
All I know is you’ve got a lot of criminals doing crimes.
What is sad is that every Jamaican bringing guns, drugs and criminally to Cayman is encouraged and welcomed by a Caymanian.
[citation needed]