Safety campaign aimed at deterring crime & crashes
(CNS): The RCIPS has launched its 2024 Holiday Safety Operation “Winter Guardian” with the aim of deterring crime and cut the worryingly high collisions on the roads. Police will intensify road enforcement operations and increase community foot and high visibility mobile patrols across the Islands.
The operation is supported by crime prevention and road safety education and awareness campaigns.
“The festive season always brings with it an increase in social and commercial activity, with more persons on our roads, in businesses, and in public spaces,” said Commissioner of Police, Kurt Walton as the operation began Monday. “The increased commercial activity also means that more cash is changing hands, and high value transactions are more frequent. With this in mind, the goal of our holiday safety campaign is to deter crime and provide reassurance to the public, so that they can continue to go about their various activities without worry.”
Twelve people have been killed on Cayman’s roads this year and with a recent and startling spike in the average number of crashes every week from around 66 to an average of over 94 in November , road safety is once again a major part of the Holiday Safety Campaign. The Traffic & Roads Policing Unit is deploying increased speeding enforcements and traffic checkpoints at targeted locations, day and night. Speeding, driving under the influence and distracted driving continue to be the main causes behind collisions and traffic fatalities.
Cracking down on these poor driving behaviours is vital at this time of year because of the increased amount of activity on our roads the police said in a releases.
“Just last week there were two fatal collisions only a few hours apart,” said Walton. “This is a stark reminder of the importance we all must place on keeping our roads safe. Our officers will continue targeted road enforcement, particularly during strategic times such as when social events will be coming to a close. But we are also encouraging all drivers and organisations to do their part.”
Drivers should always refrain from driving under the influence, keep off their phones while driving, and avoid speeding. And organisations hosting festive events are encouraged to provide additional transport options for those who are drinking. the polcie also continue to encourage members of the public to immediately contact 9-1-1 if they see someone who they know or they suspect is driving under the influence.
As in previous years, the RCIPS continues to support the National Drug Council in their annual Arrive Alive 345 Campaign. This includes the Designated Driver Programme, an initiative among local restaurants to offer complimentary soft drinks to designated drivers. The Purple Ribbon Bus service provides a free bus service on New Year’s Eve from 9:00PM to 4am for all districts on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. The RCIPS also urged drivers to take the Purple Ribbon Pledge to not drink and drive over the holiday season.
The public is also being warned to be especially cautious of financial crime, which tends to increase over the holiday season – particularly the threats of credit card fraud, business email compromise and social media scams.
Individuals and businesses alike should pay close attention to debit and credit card transactions and frequently check activities for any inaccuracies. Local text scams continue to circulate, including one targeting local banking customers, which has seen victims lose significant amounts of money. As such, individuals should continue to be alert to texts, messages or emails received from businesses asking for your password or bank account details, or advising you to click a link.
“Never provide these details and if you are unsure of the legitimacy of any communication received, check directly with the business concerned,” the police stated. “Finally, “Social media scams are becoming more common, and the holiday season brings an increase in this type of activity. Individuals may be approached via platforms such as Facebook, where an ‘investment opportunity’ is offered, under the guise of building a trusted friendship with the victim.”
The public can expect to see increased foot patrols around commercial shopping areas, and within residential communities. This will be supported by ongoing efforts to target and reduce criminal activity, by continuing high visibility patrols carried out by our specialist units, including the Firearms Response Unit.
While officers will increase their presence in both residential and commercial areas of the community, we also encourage the public to be cautious and vigilant when partaking in festive activities. Always stay with a trusted group of friends when out socializing, and remember to make a plan to get home before you head out, the polcie said.
Ensure that when out shopping you place shopping bags and other valuable items out of public view when stored in a vehicle. If possible place them in the trunk or at the very least, cover them. Ensure that any decorations installed at home or at a business place do not obstruct security cameras and be conscious of placing gifts under a tree that is visible to passersby. Businesses are also encouraged to hire additional security during the festive season if possible, and ensure that CCTV cameras are in good working order.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the public during the holiday season as Operation Winter Guardian continues,” Walton added. “We ask that you all continue to work with us, as we strive to ensure your safety while you shop, travel the roads and enjoy festivities.”
Winter Guardian will run throughout the holiday season and into the New Year. Visit the National Drug Council for more information on the purple ribbon pledge.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News
“Our officers will continue targeted road enforcement” My understanding is you need to start something in order to continue it? Right? I mean, am I missing something here?
Perhaps you should get out on the roads yourself Mr. Walton, your officers are not targeting s**t.
Next, the “do-nothing” RCIPS will uncork their annual public reprimand comments on the poor standard of driving in the absence of their on the job presence. Round and round we go until we fully replace the coddled top tiers of the RCIPS management team. The same ones that discount the murder of a 2 year old child for two years. STFU on your paid job duties, show up, and start filling those ticket books. The RCIPS needs to be urgently rebuild missing public credibility and provide a deterrence to lawlessness, gangs, and crime by being deployed in the community, stopping all traffic reg violators (including dump trucks) writing the tickets, and canceling driving privileges where necessary.
HA! RCIPS will never be held accountable for their lack of enforcing the laws. They break traffic laws themselves, I have dash cam footage as proof.
It’s a god damn race track for the worst drivers I’ve ever seen.
While DVDL keep giving licenses to people who can’t actually drive safely at any speed RCIPS will never make our roads safe.
It’s not can’t. It’s won’t.
And it includes almost every driver here, including locals.
ayyyyy “Operation Meet-Our-Quota” begins! This will no doubt be the year that it finally truly makes a difference!
zzZzZzzzZz
Weird that every driver in every manner of vehicle on the LP and ET has been speeding in a 40 mph zone lately, some at 67 mph with nary a police car to be seen. Guessing they were parked having a delicious diablo sandwich.
Seems like someone has knocked down the School Zone speed limit sign on Bodden Town Road west of Bodden Town. I hope that it was NRA and that they were going to relocate it so that the speed limit is the same for both sides of the road. At present trucks etc can drive faster as they leave Bodden Town.
Two of my many complaints about drivers on this road are how few use their indicators AND the number of bus drivers who park at the end of Northward road and therefore impede the visibility of those vehicles that wish to turn. Is there not a Bus Stop and bus shelter nearby that should, or could be used ?
A black Trans Am may be the culprit. Be on the lookout!
Police are nowhere to be seen . One idiot swerving in and out of cars towards kings gym roundabout. Just a wreck waiting to happen. Pitch black tint. No plates. Brilliant job guys brilliant.
Just another normal day on the roads.
Ok, now that you asked nicely, no probs…….
I was pretty certain that painting the speed limit in large circles in the middle of the road was going to solve everything.
It’s a shame Operation Taxi Cartel operates all year long.
The fools responsible for taxis probably don’t realise that if they charged less, they’d actually make more money.
I’d draw a picture to illustrate this point, but it’d still go over their heads.
Let’s not forget that those exorbitant cartel tariffs are set by government. Wonder if there are any conflicts?
Even if you don’t mind paying, it can be hard to get a taxi. And then even if you speak to someone, you have to hope that they show up.
Do this 365 and I’ll start to be impressed.
More “wait til we come to work” press releases?
Build a useable public transit system like a monorail and limit expat drivers and stayover tourist drivers.
So locals can drive the roads like F1 races.
it’s a good analogy, since most F1 drivers crash fairly regularly.
So they have the option of using public transit without the cost of car ownership.
I missed the part where the campaign addresses the lack of public transport and the extortion by local taxi operators.
If you can even get a taxi.