The Ministry of Interior and Police says that 45 night clubs have been temporarily shut down in the first month of new authorities. The shutdowns are part of the Operation Guarantee of Peace. During the raids on businesses, 337 illegal weapons were seized. The business owners are instructed they need to comply with the law to reopen and stay open.
Minister Faride Raful highlighted the significant number of weapon seizures, noting that most crimes and homicides are committed with illegal firearms. Her remarks followed a two-and-a-half-hour meeting on the Citizen Security Plan, chaired by Vice President Raquel Peña at the National Police headquarters on Monday, 23 September 2024. The meeting focused on progress in combating crime across various provinces. President Luis Abinader regularly chairs the weekly meeting, but did not do so because he was in New York attending the UN General Assembly. Security is tops on the agenda of the Abinader administration.
Raful stated that recent data shows a decline in homicides, attributing this trend to decreased social conflict and increased law enforcement interventions. “Social conflict, which was once the primary driver of homicides, is no longer the main cause. This has led to a reduction in both crime and homicide rates nationwide in recent weeks,” she explained.
The minister reported that in 18 provinces, the homicide rate has decreased to single digits or lower.
Many of the businesses shut down were because they were still open after 2am and neighbors frequently complained of sound contamination. “If violations are evident, the Police and the Public Ministry have the constitutional right to intervene to maintain order,” she added.
Raful acknowledged increased cooperation from the public in reporting infractions.
In addition, the ministry is working with multiple agencies, including the Joint Task Force, the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transport (Digesett), the National Police, and the Military and Police Commission (Comipol), to conduct interventions at high-risk traffic intersections to reduce accident-related fatalities.
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Ministry of Interior & Police
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
25 September 2024