Mira Outlines Hybrid Crime Strategy as He Settles Into Home Affairs

As the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise continues to respond to crime trends, cartel intelligence, and cross-border tensions, all eyes are now on Mira as he settles into the position and begins to outline his priorities for the months ahead.  When it comes to crime, Minister Mira spoke on a hybrid approach including mediation but with limited tolerance.

Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs and Enterprise: “We cannot have a small portion of our population enterprising the whole of Belize City. I do not believe that that’s what we want. However, it is easy to quantify the crime that happens in Belize. It’s easy to quantify the murders that happen in this country, the robberies, and all the other crimes that happen. It’s easy to quantify. What is not easy to quantify is how many murders did our patrols in Belize City prevented? How many robberies were prevented because of the patrols that we have out there? And so it’s a very hard situation to be in because what we can quantify is what happened, not what we prevent. I think the interaction between the community and the police should be a healthy one. In the end, most of the information that we get is from the community. So, strengthening the community policing aspect of the police department is very important to me. At the same time, enforcement has to be a part of policing. And the units that do the majority of the enforcement in the Belize Police Department must be well trained, they must be well equipped to face the challenges that we have in this country.”

Mira took over the portfolios of Home Affairs and Enterprise on Monday, November 17.