Dear Sir, I refer to the article “Nevis Police Official Reports Overall Decrease in Crime; Appeals to Public for more Assistance” By Patrice Pemberton, in your issue of February 26, 2010, in which Superintendent Samuel Seabrookes appeals to the public for more assistance in relaying information that could assist in solving crimes. Please allow me also to add a suggestion to your government for more assistance in this matter. The Superintendent’s report about crime during 2009 in Nevis is the best evidence for the excellent professional work of the Nevis Division of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. I wonder if any other Police authority in the world is able to report such a positive decrease across practically all types of criminal offences besides house break-ins. But it also shows a significant decrease of detected cases and this is where only the Government of the Federation can change a lot. WITH PROVIDING INEXPENSIVE DNA TESTING. And this is where only LEGISLATION can change the present situation of paying the ridiculous amount of US $ 10.000 to 15.000 (excluding travel expenses) for one single case at a time when police authorities in Europe pay no more than approx. US $ three to four hundred for the same case. Two years ago I arranged due to my contacts as former Austrian Honorary Consul to the Federation a course lasting several weeks in Forensics for two police officers from St. Kitts at our Federal Police Department in Vienna, Austria. During this period we were informed that in accordance with your local legislation DNA analyses must be presented in court By a representative of the producing laboratory in order to be accepted as official evidence. As a rule this will be a scientist with high medical education (in our country, from the Medical University of Innsbruck), far too expensive to let him travel around the world unless charging the customer for his very valuable time. We therefore strongly recommended to modernize the legislation for this agenda and accept written DNA analyses from the laboratories. DNA today is more reliable than finger prints or blood tests and therefore must enjoy better or at least the same acceptance at any court. DNA today is not any more only a case-related evidence for the criminal offence just been committed but the most important, most reliable and most necessary tool in the daily profession of criminal investigation. In most countries in the world DNA samples are taken from all accused AT THEIR FIRST OFFENCE and stored in computers. The detection of later offences of this person will go up rap idly. And this is the real value of DNA: Get the habitual criminal quicker at one of his next offences. Not to forget the side advantage By detecting many old cases even after years. Not offering this DNA tool as OFTEN AS NEEDED to the Police Force in its fight against crime is like fighting tanks with bow and arrows. I would not have written this mail did I not love your beautiful islands and the warm-hearted people I had the pleasure of meeting in the 20 years in the Federation. Josef Baumgartner Vienna, Austria
