UK experts to assess Barbados Police Service

Experts from the United Kingdom (UK) will be here soon to conduct a strategic review of The Barbados Police Service (TBPS).

The aim of the upcoming exercise which was requested by Prime Minister Mia Mottley will be to help her administration design “a modern and responsive police service”, according to a government statement.

The disclosure follows a meeting on Wednesday at Ilaro Court at which Mottley, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall, and UK Minister for the Americas and Caribbean David Rutley discussed increased British support for Barbados in tackling serious and organised crime and other matters.

A statement from the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) said that “senior policing experts from the UK will visit Barbados in the spring” to carry out the review.

“The UK’s International Police Assistance Service will assess TBPS’ operating model and make recommendations to develop its capability in community policing and fighting violent crime. The review, which will be submitted following the visit, will contribute to the design of a modern and responsive police service,” it said.

Marshall welcomed the support of the British Government on this initiative.

“This strategic review will assist in evaluating the resources of the TBPS, and its ability to protect the citizens of our country,” he said, adding that the Government’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of TBPS was reflected in the unprecedented level of funding for the police service in the coming financial year.

Rutley said he expected the upcoming review to reap benefits for Barbados.

“We are confident UK policing expertise can help The Barbados Police Service tackle the scourge of violent crime and keep its citizens safe,” he said.

The BGIS statement said Barbados also continues to benefit from the presence of the US-UK Criminal Justice Adviser, Sirah Abraham, in Bridgetown.

To date, her team has drafted a National Criminal Justice Strategy to tackle police capacity and court backlogs, and provided training on casefile standards, it said. (BGIS/BT)