Home | Community | TOURIST POLICE RENDERS ACCOUNT IN COASTAL AREAS

TOURIST POLICE RENDERS ACCOUNT IN COASTAL AREAS

06 August, 2011 03:41:00 Lady Ann Umaña

Representatives of the Tourist Police informed the community of Tamarindo of the results of its surveillance work in coastal areas, at a meeting recently held at Hotel Tamarindo Diria.

Jason Vargas, from the Tourist Police, gave a detailed report on the achievements of his administration in the last five months, in regards to the coastal communities of Guiones, Flamingo, Potrero, Conchal, Brasilito, Playa Grande, Tamarindo and Langosta.

Public safety is one of the pressing needs at any location, and Tamarindo is no exception. On several occasions, the people of this district have expressed their desire for tourists to have ample security in respect to their physical integrity and possessions.

In Tamarindo, there are two police forces: the Tourist Police and the Proximity Police Force. The Tourist Police was established in 2006, when the first 122 officers graduated. They received training designed to protect and fully meet the needs of foreign or national tourism.

According to the Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, crime figures have decreased by 40% as to the reporting of crimes by tourists in the period between 2006 and 2010.

Last month, the Ministry of Public Security and Costa Rica Board of Tourism (ICT) signed an agreement whereby the latter will provide 300 million colones, for a period of four years, to strengthen the police force.

The new funds are aimed tat increasing the number of officers to 600, who will be located in major tourist places throughout the country. These officers will receive training focused on the visitor's attention. They will receive an intensive six-month course on: crime analysis, detection of false documents, customer service, history, geography, law, business administration, English and an introduction to the country's tourism product.

Recurring offenses in the area:

Weapons Seizure: 1 handgun 2 knives Confiscation of Psychotropic:46 marijuana cigarettes 42 crack rocks Arrests and detentions: 157 people investigated 73 arrested 4 motorcycles investigated 27 vehicles investigated Policing in figures: 48 bus boardings 14 arms controls 48 investigations under the Law on Psychotropic Substances58 interviews with businesses
Tamarindo in safety numbers: • In Tamarindo, a burglary is reported every 36 hours. It occurs most often in inhabited homes.• Few vehicles have been stolen.• The most common types of crime in the area over the past five months, according to the Municipal Police, are those against property, and those against the Law on Psychotropic Substances. Incidence of other crimes: Crimes against property: 289 Domestic Violence Law: 22 Crimes against the Law on Psychotropic Substances: 167 Contraventions to the person: 2 Law on Weaponry and Explosives: 1 handgun, 3 knives Crimes against Authority: 2 Sexual Offences: 2 Public Health Law: 2 Traffic Law: 2 Contrary to public order: 1 Contravention against the property: 1 Crimes against privacy: 1 Vargas said that they are striving to provide a fast and effective personalized service for the tourist that has been offended. Those attending the meeting mentioned their interest in the possibility of carrying out safety checks in the only access road to Tamarindo, in order to reduce crime and drugs. The officers urged the community to form a Safety Committee, and offered their help to work together. Some suggestions arose, once again, about the need to put surveillance cameras in public places, monitored by the police, whereupon Vargas offered to train citizens in this regard. He was also part of the debate to improve the quality of communication, provide walkie-talkies to some citizens (an aspect suggested in the Coastal Emergency Plan) that would allow them to communicate quickly and expeditiously with the police. The Tourist Police also announced that it will provide training to citizens on crimes against the businesses and on how to prevent them. The Tourist Police headquarters is in Flamingo, you may contact them by e-mailing to turisticaguanacaste@msp.go.cr o by calling at 2654-5086.