The Community policing unit was active in Ladyville this morning along with inmates from the Belize Central prison. They joined forces to demonstrate how a clean community can help stop crime in the area. Jomarie Lanza stopped by to find out how.

It may not look like it but yhis cluster of bush here in Ladyville was once a street. And today the community policing unit brought in prison labor to make it so again.

ACP Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community Policing Unit
"As I am told this was a connection between manatee drive and Milpa area so this was a street that people used to traverse but it has grown now and we have inmates from the Kolbe foundation so we are ever so grateful for that collaboration with the Kolbe foundation, Mr Murillo and his team. What we intend to do next is coordinate with the village council in Ladyville to remove the debris and see if the street can be opened again and made more accessible."

And now these inmates who are in prison for crimes are now doing a public good by creating spaces that will deter criminality so that others can't do what they are accused of.

ACP Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community Policing Unit
"Well we are trying to prevent crime, it has been brought to our knowledge during Ladyville's meet and greet sessions this year that the statistics are showing that property crimes are the prevalent crimes in this area be it burglary, theft and other property crimes so as a law enforcement agency we have to do our part to prevent crime we have to see it before had and do our best to support the residents. What we know is that this is an aging population in terms that many people from this area are retirees. They have worked all their lives and now they want to relax. But the criminals don't care so we have to see and be smart enough and wise enough to know that we must do something to prevent crime even before it occurs."

"Criminals love areas that are dark, areas that are bushy and we know that so that's what we are doing here today. So we are so pleased with the coordination and collaboration between the Belize police department and the Kolbe foundation to have these 12 inmates here with us today to being doing this kind of work."