Caribbean police complete advanced crime scene training

Senior police officers from across the Caribbean have completed specialised training in evidence-based investigation and human rights under the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) PACE Justice Programme, held here at the Regional Security System (RSS) headquarters at Paragon, Christ Church.

Around 40 senior officers from ten countries participated in the five-day crime scene investigation workshop, delivered by the UNDP and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the RSS, the European Union (EU) Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), and the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

According to a release, the training focused on advanced investigative strategies, forensic documentation, evidence collection, and the use of modern investigative tools. It forms part of an ongoing regional effort to strengthen police professionalism, improve case management, and build public trust in the justice system.

Officials said the initiative directly responds to findings from UNDP needs assessments that highlighted crime scene handling and investigative case building as key areas requiring capacity strengthening in Caribbean justice systems.

Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Attorney General, Timothy Maynard, said: “Police investigation is a cornerstone of any functioning justice system. The public’s confidence in the justice system begins with the integrity and professionalism of police investigations. That is why this training is so vital. Justice must be people-centred — accessible, responsive, and inclusive, grounded in the lived realities of those it serves.”

Assistant Superintendent Cecil Watson of the RSS added: “The structured in-country mentorship component will provide direct, hands-on guidance tailored to the complexities of national cases and specific country needs.” He said the training complements broader regional efforts “to elevate policing standards, enhance justice delivery, and build stronger, more resilient law enforcement institutions in the Caribbean”.

The EU attaché for security, justice and human rights, Alessandro Tedesco, described the presence of European trainers as “a tangible sign of the EU’s commitment to enhancing law enforcement capacities in the Caribbean, fostering a comprehensive and collaborative effort for justice reform”.

Limya Eltayeb, UNDP resident representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said the initiative “represents a powerful example of what we can achieve through collaboration — bringing together regional expertise and international partners to enhance the quality of police investigations”.

She noted that the training forms part of a wider regional reform agenda under the PACE Justice Programme, which includes technology upgrades, legislative support, and peer learning to modernise justice delivery and strengthen institutions in the Caribbean. (BT)