Less delinquency in 2016, sharp drop in armed robberies
Three homicides in two weeks "oppresses and scares the population". The delegate préfète of Saint-Martin, Anne Laubies, acknowledged the feeling of insecurity felt lately by the citizens. But she also wants to "bring (the delinquency situation) back to a certain degree of rationalization”.
Indeed, despite the three recent homicides, the number of crimes and misdemeanors has decreased on the French side since the beginning of the year. "We are seeing a decrease of 14.2%, which represents 279 fewer crimes", said the gendarmerie captain Emmanuel Maignan. "For the past fifteen years, there have been between 3,600 and 4,000 crimes and misdemeanors committed per year in Saint-Martin. In 2004, we were below the 3,500 threshold, and since then we have gone above it", he added. But especially insisted that for two years, delinquency has decreased and that "we’re at levels which are equivalent to those at the end of the 90s and the beginning of the years 2000".
The number of hold ups (in French: VAMA) that had skyrocketed in 2014 has dropped by more than 62 % since the beginning of this year. "There were 137 hold ups in 2014 and 114 in 2015. As of now, we have 30 compared to 79 last year at the same time," explained Captain Maignan. The number of burglaries has also decreased by 51.2%. This represents 129 fewer crimes. As for attempted homicides, which were high in 2014 and 2015 - respectively 26 and 14 - there have been 4 since the beginning of the year. Only homicides are on the rise: 6 against 3 compared to last year at the same time.
This can be partly explained by an internal reorganization of the gendarmerie services, in particular by placing more men in the research brigade. "The crime-solving rate has therefore increased as well as the arrests", said the captain while making clear that the "severe" sentences pronounced by the courts contribute to these results.
In addition, the military reinforcement last summer as announced by President François Hollande during his visit on May 8, has also helped to strengthen the presence of the gendarmes on the ground and develop foot patrols.
But cracking down is not the only answer for delinquency which "remains high", said the prefect. She also sees the need for preventive measures. An "effort that has been initiated for several months with the collaboration of the Collectivité" as part of the local security and delinquency prevention council (CLSPD).
"If we have such a crime level, it is also due to our regional environment," explained Anne Laubies. An environment that she describes as "porous". “We cannot work alone. We must work in cooperation with Sint Maarten and also with Anguilla", she said. Indeed, only a police cooperation currently exists with the Dutch side of the island.
Finally, the préfète intends to implement the "vigicommerce" program in the near future, which is intended to launch an alert in case of a hold up, or other thefts. She had submitted the idea several months ago but for various reasons, no convention was signed between the gendarmerie and the Collectivité. "This program works very well in other places but we must adapt it locally," said Anne Laubies. It is her goal that the program will be set up at the beginning of the school year in September.
