Police mark first UWI-accredited crime scene training course

A new partnership between the Barbados Police Service and the University of the West Indies has produced its first cohort of formally accredited crime scene investigators, a move expected to raise the standard of evidence handling and strengthen court-ready policing.

The Basic Crime Scene Investigation and Management course is the fruit of a partnership that will strengthen the professionalism of policing, Deputy Commissioner of Police Adrian Broomes declared.

Addressing the graduation ceremony at the Regional Police Training Centre, DCP Broomes said the programme reflected the force’s continued investment in developing highly skilled investigators capable of meeting the demands of modern policing.

Participants completed an intensive programme covering critical areas including crime scene management, scene preservation and documentation, evidence collection, collision investigation, fingerprint development, DNA and biological evidence, photography, electronic evidence, ballistics and courtroom presentation.

“These represent the critical components of modern policing and criminal justice,” Broomes said.

Reminding the graduates of the importance of their role, he said law enforcement officers were entrusted with serving the public, protecting communities and ensuring investigations were carried out with “integrity, fairness, respect and respect for the rule of law”.

Public confidence depended on investigations being able to withstand scrutiny in the courts, the deputy commissioner said.

“Every scene may be different…each one may have its unique story to tell, but our methods must be consistent, cutting edge and most of all beyond reproach.”

Broomes also reflected on the evolution of the crime scene training programme, noting that it began as an internal police initiative in 2021 before expanding through successive cohorts:

“This year’s training course is the third, and it marks a significant historic milestone because it is the first formal collaboration with the University of the West Indies.”

Describing the partnership as far more than symbolic, DCP Broomes said it combined operational policing with academic excellence and would help produce “officers [who] are not only practitioners but [also] lifelong learners, capable of engaging with research, theory and evidence-based practice”.

The collaboration with UWI demonstrated the Barbados Police Service’s commitment to investing in its personnel, strengthening its professionalism and enhancing its ability to serve with integrity, said DCP Broomes.

“By aligning ourselves with the University of the West Indies, we affirm that policing is not simply a vocation. It is a profession grounded in knowledge, in ethics and continuous development.”

He expressed optimism that the partnership would continue to grow, saying that “something special always happens when operational policing and academia work together” and adding that he looked forward to “bigger and better collaborations” between the police service and UWI.

(SB)