Rapists terrorising Westmoreland - Cops worried trend will increase

With rape on the increase in Westmoreland and victims sometimes reluctant to cooperate with the police and have the matters resolved through the courts, the police are worried that the trend may escalate.

"There is a lot of empathy within the communities," said Superintendent Gary McKenzie, the commanding officer for the Westmoreland police. "What we find is that the police is challenged to get the matters properly concluded within the court because there are interventions in these matters. People want to compromise the cases."

"That is not the way to go because if we continue to do that, then the problem will escalate. We have to take a stance as a society not to encourage the violation of our little girls and women," added McKenzie.

According to statistics released by the police, since the start of 2018, there have been some 36 reported cases of rape in Westmoreland, which is seven more than the corresponding period last year. The majority of the victims are teenagers.

"Some of these rapes are committed by very close persons, especially in the cases of those girls ... and that is something that is quite worrying," said McKenzie. "We see it with family members or persons who might transport them home from work and school. We have to work towards the re-establishment of values and respect for these girls and women, who should be allowed to decide what should happen to them and their bodies."

Despite the challenges being faced, the police have been doing a fairly decent job in getting some of the perpetrators to face justice.

According to McKenzie, in at least 50 per cent of the reported cases, the accusers have been taken into custody with a view of being placed before the courts.

As an added step to address the problem, the police have launched an educational campaign in the parish, where schools are visited and students engaged in discussions surrounding public safety and other pertinent information about sex and sexuality.

The church has been engaged to support the initiative.