Barbados Police Service to tap Special Constables to fill vacancies

Special Constables could soon have the opportunity to become full-fledged police officers as Government looks to other sources to fill over 200 vacancies in the Barbados Police Service.

This was revealed on Monday afternoon by Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn during his delivery of Government’s Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in the House of Assembly.

Declaring that “The fight against crime is first and foremost a domestic fight,” Minister Straughn acknowledged that it is also a regional fight, while admitting that manpower continues to be a challenge for the local law enforcement command.

He said his Government’s commitment to the fight against crime requires that all the necessary resources are placed at the disposal of the police.

He said while there has been an increase in the numbers entering the Regional Police Training School, there remains a shortfall given the numbers of policemen retiring from the service, those who leave because of illness, those who pass away or others who explore new job opportunities.

He noted, “The numbers of officers added annually cannot help us to make up the current deficit in numbers of just over 250 officers. We will work aggressively to address the issue of regular recruitment,” he said.

Straughn said the special constabulary will be tapped to augment the dwindling numbers in the force.

The Special Constables play an integral role in maintaining public safety and supporting police operations, “but we know they can do much more,” Straughn said.

He explained that from the coming financial year Special Constables who have completed three years in their role will be automatically transitioned to permanent positions in the police service, if they opt to do so. This strategy has been implemented after consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he explained.

There are currently 46 Special Constables.

Straughn said the Government expects that the majority of the current batch will “seize” the opportunity to join the full-time ranks of the police service. The change will require a change to the Police Act to allow Special Constables to become police officers.

In the meantime, the police service is to set about recruiting 60 new Special Constables. Among their duties will be providing maintenance and social order focusing on unregulated vending, illegal dumping and road safety management to ease the burden on policemen, Straughn said. They will also be eligible to transition to the police service after three years.

(SP)