The Police Community Policing Unit, in collaboration with the Embassy of Taiwan, and the British High Commission handed over more than 100 Christmas toys to Belize City children this afternoon.
And of course, Mr Christmas, Prime Minister John Briceno was there, and commended the efforts of the community policing unit for spearheading the initiative.
ACP Howell Gillett, Commander of the National Community Policing Unit
"What we are doing today we are seeing over 100 kids from all different neighborhoods within Belize city.This one is for Belize City, tomorrow's one is for the Belize District and some parts of Belize City that we couldn't capture. To be exact its 116 its a way to show the community that we are a part of them, because we cannot police in isolation, and we cannot just think about arresting our problems away. We have to engage these young people and what we are doing here today is bring cheer and joy to the hearts of young people but strategically we are getting young people closer to law enforcement to show them that its not just about making an arrest its not about taking people to prison its more collaborating with them from a very young age in their formative years to see if that, and i know it has been proven scientifically that if you interact with young people during their formative age like this in a meaningful way you will get great results."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Assistant commissioner Gillette we've become friends over the years he's always reaching out to me about the work that he's doing with community policing and I firmly believe that the future of policing in Belize has to be community based. It has to be that the police becomes a part of the community and that the community feels that confidence working along with the police. And what he and his team have been doing is remarkable so today I was invited to come here for a little while just to show my support for the work that he doing and for the children, you know Christmas is about the children and so it has been quite heartwarming and pleasing to be here."
