The Royal Bahamas Police Force held it’s annual church service at Zion Baptist Church on East and Shirley Streets this weekend. In attendance was Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius Smith, Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis, Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe as well as the hierarchy of the police force.

Prime Minister Davis delivered remarks at the service where he acknowledged that crime is a serious problem. “Crime has been a very serious and chronic problem for too long and then a succession of national crises poured gasoline on the fire. Years of trauma, dislocation, lockdowns, despair have led to the tragedies we see unfolding around us. Each act of violence has a ripple effect in our families, in our churches and in our wider communities.”

Davis went on saying, “gangs are reaching into our schools to recruit and this is happening in the younger grades as well as the older grades. Our presence on campuses has strengthened security in our schools which we owe you our thanks. We also need to stop gangs from recruiting inside the prison walls. All too often young men are leaving with fewer options than they had previously but more dangerous connections.”

The Prime Minister also outlined measures being taken by the government to combat crime and illegal immigration. The church service was followed by a parade from the church back to Police Headquarters.