Step up

The days of prosecutions being discontinued in court owing to absent files – some outstanding as far back as eight years – must come to an end, the nation’s crime chief has told police officers.

“This is an undesirable state of affairs which does not bode well for professionalism and efficiency, and indeed, quality service,” Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime Eucklyn Thompson told detectives. “This shortcoming must be rectified with immediacy.”

He said investigators complimenting field work with the requisite case files was significant to the advancement of cases in the law courts.

Thompson was delivering the featured address at a course in basic criminal investigation at the Regional Police Training Centre at Seawell.

Speaking on the changing dynamics of crime and investigation, he said forces in the region must pride themselves on total quality service devoid of corrupt methods and practices.

He said that as today’s detectives battle with organised crime, transnational crime, computer enabling crime in the world of cyber technology and the influx of firearms through ports of entry and courier services, the fight is not for the faint-hearted.

Assistant Commissioner Thompson said to the participants: “Just turning up for duty will not suffice. Your police high command will be expecting a more  keenly, enthusiastic, committed, and skillful officer who, in the scheme of things, will be multi-skilled in nature, and capable of bringing relevant and pertinent ideas to enhance discussions, strategy and work performance.

“The practitioners of crime who might not always be the men on the street, in an effort to remain relevant, viable and improve productivity, are always exploring the latest in technology and other competitive strategies, including networking with persons of similar ilk to outfit and out-think law enforcement in order to stay in the business.”

The two-week training course drew 28 participants from the police forces of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and Belize, and the Barbados Defence Force.

Detectives were trained on the role and qualities of a detective including deportment, house-to-house inquiries, computer technology as an aid to investigation, interviewing techniques, and crime scene management.

Barbadian officers Police Constable 1968 Gregory Parris and PC 2215 Nellon Collymore tied at the top of the class with both receiving 80 per cent in the course.