Police have rolled out a new enforcement strategy designed to make it harder for offenders to operate undetected across Antigua and Barbuda.

Dubbed Operation Iron Grip, the initiative will focus on targeted interventions in crime hotspots, increased police visibility, and disrupting the movement of criminal elements, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Albert Wade.

Speaking on Observer Radio’s Voice of the People, Wade said police analysis shows that many crimes follow identifiable patterns and can be prevented through proactive policing rather than routine patrols alone.

“Crime is not random. We think it’s predictable,” he said, noting that officers will be deployed in ways intended to interrupt criminal activity before offences occur.

The Deputy Commissioner said the operation will target opportunistic crimes and increase police checks in key areas. “You cannot successfully move from point A to point B without being stopped by a police officer,” he said.

Wade also stressed the importance of officers being more engaged with their surroundings and communities, while expanding community policing efforts through district liaison officers who will work more closely with residents and young people.

Police say the broader goal is to strengthen crime prevention, improve community relationships, and reduce criminal activity across the country.