Women in charge of northern division looking to forge closer links with community

For the first time in the history of the Barbados Police Service (BPS) the Northern Division is being headed by two women.
Commander Divisional Officer Superintendent of Police Christine Stanford and her second in command Assistant Superintendent Janice Ifill are the first two women to lead the division, “or any division at all in the service”.
Stanford, who assumed the post on February 14 told members of the media on Friday morning at the Holetown Station where the If You See Something Say Something initiative was launched, that she was pleased to be given the opportunity to head a division with the support of her second-in-command.
“The two of us together, we work well and we understand how the process works. We understand the dynamics and we have a team of officers who also understand, so we drive the process and we ensure the Northern Division continues to be a safe place for families to be raised,” she said.
Stanford added: “We look at women, we look at men, I see titles, I see positions. And for us there is no ‘we against them’. We have the same responsibilities, we have the same duties and we just do the best that we can given the resources that we have.”
She is hoping for more community engagement and involvement as the Northern Division takes its policing strategies forward with the police and community working together as a team.
“If we can get more of that we would see crime would be decreased, because a lot happens and the police aren’t around. So we want the public to share. We want the public to embrace the police. If you see something, say something. It is not snitching, it is saving lives,” Stanford said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent Ifill who took up her post last November said assuming the leadership role was a proud moment for her. She believes they have been doing an excellent job so far and she is looking forward to the challenge.
Ifill said the Northern Division is known to have a lower crime rate and has also been maintaining a high crime solving rate especially over the past two months.
“Most of our major matters have been solved, so we are proud of that achievement. And yes we have feet on the ground every day, engaging the community officers, which we intend to continue,” she added.
(AH)