More police personnel says new commissioner

The newly appointed Acting Commissioner of Police in St Lucia, Vernon Francois, has promised to put more police personnel on the streets, as the authorities move to quell an increase in murders and other criminal activities.



Francois says too often the authorities have looked outside for solutions to the problems and acknowledged that there has also been a great level of mistrust between the police and the community.



Francois also acknowledged that it’s unacceptable for the police to investigate their colleagues for corruption and other allegations.



He says what’s needed is an independent agency to investigate matters involving the police.



The newly appointed acting police commissioner has also called for the police to be professional in their duties.



So far this year, 23 people have been killed in St Lucia, twice the number that occurred for the similar period last year.