Top cop worried about violent crime

COMMISSIONER of Police Darwin Dottin is concerned about the wanton abuse of firearms.In the wake of three bloody deaths within a two-day period, Dottin acknowledged it had been an “extraordinary weekend for Barbados”.“There is a problem of firearms, and it is something we have to deal with,” he said last night.Dottin, concerned about the matter in which Barbadians were settling disputes, added: “Too often when people disagree with each other, they reach for a weapon of violence, be it a knife or gun, to settle those differences.“There are difficulties with gun-related violence right throughout the Caribbean, and it is something that we have to come to grips with.” On the issue of drugs, Dottin said there had been no strong link between the murders committed this year and drugs. But he did acknowledge that the trafficking and the misuse of drugs had the potential to fuel violent crime.“We see it all around in the Caribbean, and we have to use our best endeavours. We have to work hard, not only the Police Force, but right across the society to address this issue of abuse of drugs.” (MK)