The bill desiring to give soldiers powers of arrest returns to the Senate right after the long holiday weekend. It essays to augment the Police Service with hundreds of already highly-trained and disciplined men and women from the Defence Force after they receive appropriate exposure to police methods and court procedure. Everyone is in agreement the police are undermanned and very inhibited as a result. Turning to underused military resources at this time is a brilliant move not only for its simplicity. I therefore support it and urge its expansion to incorporate fire and prison officers.
Locally and aboard many crimes are committed arising from breaches of the fire or prison laws and regulations. While in foreign countries, fire and correction institution officials may investigate, pursue and prosecute such infringements, here it's the police who have the chore. Were the Senate to amend the bill so fire and prison officers would have powers of arrest and prosecution over similar offences, it would free up scarce police resources to deal with other pressing crimes like murder, rape, drug dealing and wounding.
The call is made because too often our lawmakers forget the laws they pass are supposed to make life easier for the law abiding but more difficult for the outlaw.
Humphrey Diefenthaller,
La Horquette