ST JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) – In a major shake-up of police leadership, Antigua’s first woman police chief yesterday promised to clamp down on rising crime.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer appointed career police officer Delano Christopher to be acting police chief Sunday, two weeks after the two-island nation set up a special task force to deal with organised crime and government corruption.

Former police chief Rawlston Pompey and his deputy James Hill were given 90 days vacation leave. Eighteen other officers of varying ranks were also sent on vacation.

“Tackling crime will be a priority,” said Christopher, 54, who served as acting deputy chief in 2003 and has been a police officer for 36 years.

She said corruption cases would be handled by the special task force, which will be under the authority of the justice ministry.

“Based on the reports received from the stations, crime is on the increase,” Christopher said yesterday, her second day as chief of the 500-member police force.

About a dozen people, including four women, were killed last year in Antigua and Barbuda, a former British Caribbean colony with a population of 70,000.

Current statistics on killings, burglaries and thefts were unavailable, Christopher said.

In recent months, discontent has grown among police, and Christopher said she would plead their cause with the government.

“If the men on the force are happy, it makes it easier for us to fight crime,” she said.

In November, about 200 police officers attended a union meeting instead of going to work, aiming to pressure the government for a pay increase.

On average, officers earn Eastern Caribbean $2,000 (US$749) a month.

Spencer, who became prime minister in March 2004, has vowed to investigate alleged corruption under the previous government of former prime minister Lester Bird. Bird, whose family had been in power for decades, and other former officials, have denied the allegations.

In March, a judge charged Dean Jonas, a former governing party communications ministry adviser, with influence peddling. Jones allegedly attempted to persuade members of the tender board to favour the offer of the Irish-owned Digicel telecommunications company to buy Antigua’s cell phone company. Jonas faces up to 10 years in prison.