Walcott underscores importance of discipline within RBPF

Maintaining discipline within the Royal Barbados Police Force must be supported at all levels, if the rule of law is to be respected by both citizens, and officers.

This was the view shared by Superintendent of Police (ag), Roderic Walcott, during the closing ceremony for the Police Executive Leadership Seminar, held at the Hilton hotel on Friday.

The two-week seminar saw 15 senior members of the RBPF being trained in effective leadership strategies by officers from the Durham Constabulary in the UK, as well as other local speakers.

During his brief remarks, Walcott said discipline within the ranks must remain the number one priority for the force,.

“Internal discipline and the appropriate regulatory system, is critical to maintaining a disciplined organization. As leaders in the Royal Barbados Police Force, effective treatment to disciplinary matters must be effectively dealt with, as such this programme would not have been complete without instruction in this area,” Walcott said.

Effective communication strategies to the public was also an important area covered during the programme, with Walcott underscoring the value of good relations between the force and the public, being the key to a better policing environment.

Walcott said, “As police leaders, communication with the public directly and through the press is almost unavoidable, and as such, the exposure and training received in this light was extremely valuable. The importance of communication with the public is so important, that other associated topics continued into week two, with more practical media exercises. These were all accentuated by input from Toastmasters and other communication professionals.” (SB)