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We all need somebody to lean on

David Baines is a man with a lot on his plate at the moment.

But the Royal Cayman Islands Police Commissioner hasn’t shied away from the media and dealt with things head on.

Yesterday he spoke honestly and candidly with Tad Stoner in our exclusive interview in which he revealed how stretched the Police Service has become.

Five gangland murders in the space of just over a week would test the resources of any force worldwide, let alone a relatively small one like ours.

Governor Duncan Taylor and Premier McKeeva Bush were both quick to dish out praise to Mr Baines in front of the business community at a Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday night.

During that discussion more details were revealed of the outside help heading to Cayman next week in the shape of around 20 officers from Merseyside Police.

Comparisons will obviously be made to the disastrous Operation Tempura when a team from the Metropolitan Police came here – at a huge expense – and failed to secure a single conviction. One British newspaper labeled them the “sunshine squad”.

I’m confident this contingent from the UK won’t want to be tarred with the same brush – and more so when I learned they will be joined by Jon Murphy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police. The most senior policeman on the force.

The officers will want to impress their boss. They will want to make sure they get results and return to the UK with their heads held high. And with their Chief Constable breathing down their necks I’ve no doubt that will be the case.

Mr Murphy is the ACPO – the Association of Chief Police Officers – spokesman for crime. Each UK Chief Constable has a different area of expertise and according to his resume, included in Mr Murphy’s is serious organised crime. He is also an expert on forensic science, drugs, and intelligence. His knowledge, expertise and experience will prove invaluable in catching and convicting those responsible for these heinous and cowardly crimes.

Also revealed yesterday to the great and the good of the Cayman business world was that help and advice will be sought in other quarters. Following a number of high-profile criminal acquittals we will be looking overseas for support from Canada in preparing cases before they go before the courts.

There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when people are ready and willing to lend invaluable support at times of need. I just hope, as I’m sure David Baines and all of Cayman do, that we have chosen the right people for the job and we can put an end to the problems before they spiral way out of control.

 

 

 

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