WILLEMSTAD - A research carried out by the Council for Law Enforcement showed that between 2016 and 2018 only 10.9 percent of the assaults committed were solved in Curaçao. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, 666, 561 and 425 atrakos (assaults) were committed respectively, of which only 12 percent, 11.59 percent and 9 percent were resolved in consecutive years. A significant decrease in the number of assaults committed, but also a slight decrease in the number of solved cases.
There is no clear explanation for the decrease in assaults committed, nor the low percentage of solved cases. Respondents suspect that the frequent offenders are locked up and that the number of assaults has therefore decreased.
In 2015, the Law Enforcement Council already conducted an investigation into the approach to combating assaults, in which the aspects of the organization, the investigation process, and policy were highlighted. The Board then concluded that the Atrako team was mainly faced with a lack of material resources.
In addition, the Board noted a shortage of personnel and cells. Internal and external support also had to be better organized because Team Digital and Team Infodesk could not be used in all cases. The Council made recommendations to remedy these shortcomings.
The recent investigation to determine to what extent the recommendations from the 2015 inspection report have been followed up, showed that the availability of sufficient material resources is still a bottleneck within the Curaçao Police Force.
There is also still a lack of sufficient detention capacity at the police. The plan to rebuild the detention center in Rio-Canario has not been carried out. There is also still a structural lack of adequately maintained service vehicles.
The eavesdropping possibilities have improved, but the Team Digital does not have the means to read extra secure systems. It also appears that the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) of the KPC, which is essential for performing ballistic investigations, is still not operational due to the limited financial possibilities.
There is also overcrowding in the staffing capacity. The number of employees at the Local Serious Crime unit is higher than the KPC design plan prescribes due to the workload. More than twenty employees have been placed within the Atrako team. With this number of employees, the Atrako team can handle the workload.
The Council recommends that investments are still made in technological resources, such as IBIS, cameras, resources to better trace telephones and to read extra secure systems. This with the aim of increasing the probability of being caught.
It should also be possible to conduct more forensic investigations (DNA investigations). Furthermore, the support teams will need to be contacted before calling on external support.