The blogmaster read your scripted message on how you intend to proceed in the role of Commissioner of Police with interest – an interest heightened by the high incidence of crime on the island. However, it would be rude not to offer sincere congratulations on your promotion.
Now that all courtesies have been dispensed, allow the blogmaster to ask a few questions with observations. These question, some of which you responded to in your plans, will be used by this forum to look for measurable results. Your predecessors – like you – came to the job with flowery words and lofty promises. Although the argument can be made that the Barbados Police Service (BPS) has done well given the constraints caused by a lack of resources, this has led to obvious systemic and structural issues that must be addressed urgently if the BPS is to become fit for purpose.
1. You have inherited a murder rate that has shattered public confidence. Beyond the usual words, what is the plan to introduce community policing tactics? It is no secret the BPS is enforcing the law better than executing prevention strategies. It should make sense that the BPS must prioritise winning the hearts and minds of Barbadians across all strata of society. If we want to deal with some of our problems at the root.
2. There is so much ambivalence as it relates to the nature of gangs operating in Barbados. From all reports they are better armed and have effective local and regional networks. What concrete steps will you be taking to dismantle the nexus between the local gangs and those criminal operatives operating outside of Barbados?
3. A visit to any police station in Barbados, one is immediately embarrassed at the lack of technology being used to administer crime. The types of crime being committed by white collar actors especially are largely going undetected. What is your technology plan Commissioner Boyce?
4. It is known the Barbados Police Service is undermanned by about 300 officers. This is a significant number relative to demand for services by the public. In a climate of rising crime and lawlessness, what is the plan to ramp up recruitment strategies?
5. Trust is corroded by persistent whispers of corruption and officers tipping off criminals. Will you invite an independent or an external body even to investigate the integrity of the force, and are you willing to publicly dismiss and name any officer -regardless of rank -found colluding with the underworld? On a side note, what is the outcome of the investigation of the police officer that slapped a man on Kadooment Day 696 days ago? Former Commissioner Richard Boyce promised to report back to the country, but he lied. Now he has retired.
6. A few years ago retired Commissioner Tyrone Griffith was in office, we detected there was tension between the police service and the Barbados Customs department. It should be obvious that a key strategy to fight crime must be to harmonise with other security agencies. We cannot have the police high command ‘beefing’ with Customs. What is the plan to ensure all security agencies are harmonised to support effecient crime fighting?
7. The Barbados Police Service is responsible for handing complaints levelled by the public through the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). How can the police regain the public’s trust if is responsible for investigating itself? What will you do to promote transparency in this regard?
Let us leave our sensibilities at the door and work TOGETHER to make Barbados a better place.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.