BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN his continued efforts to regain the public's support, Commissioner of Police (COP) Austin Williams has charged junior supervisors of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to always display a positive and professional attitude in the execution of their duties and to give of their best.
The COP made this pronouncement, among others, yesterday afternoon (June 21) at the Closing Ceremony of a one-week Junior Supervisors Course held at the Police Training School’s Lecture Theatre.
“Our role and mandate as police officers is to prevent and detect crime, preserve the Queen’s Peace and to help restore a sense of normalcy and peace, and to reassure our residents and visitors alike that we are more than capable of doing so.
“It is only through the delivery of a quality and professional service that we will be able to get the much needed support from the general public to help us achieve these ideals. We must continue to bear in mind that crime prevention is not solely the job of the police, but the collective responsibility of the police and the general public.
“I am therefore urging you to display a positive and professional attitude at all times and to give of your best so as to win the support of the public once again,” Williams said.
Earlier in his address to the participants, the COP emphasised the point that much unfavourable criticisms were made against the organisation and that it was “falling down”.
He averred that there is a dire need for supervisory competencies and skills because some supervisors have failed to provide strong and effective leadership.
“This, in turn,” he lamented, “has manifested itself in much criticism for the level of customer service which we dispense to our various stakeholders and customers.”
Commissioner Williams noted that among the areas criticised were poor telephone etiquette, impatience and intolerance when speaking with complainants and victims, rush to judgment in matters of domestic dispute, and insensitivity to the plight of victims of domestic violence.
He told the participants that the capacity-building course was geared to eliminate those shortcomings by improving their supervisory knowledge and skills.
“The capacity-building programme is aimed at equipping you with professional and modern 21st Century policing techniques to enhance your performance.
“We certainly intend to continue the use of capacity-building as a major tool to facilitate the delivery of more professional service to the society. Our main objective, of course, is to help improve public confidence in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis police Force and we must do so by winning the trust and confidence of the general public,” Williams said.
The COP pointed out that the trust and confidence the force is seeking to win would be transformed into more cooperation and assistance from the general public, which he envisaged would assist the police in their fight against crime and also to help them to expedite some investigations.
“As we resolve to stamp out all forms of indiscipline and bad practices and push to promote professionalism in police officers across the Federation with the aim of repairing some of the damage that has been caused to the image of the force, let this healing begin with you.
“You are now charged with the responsibility of professionally, efficiently and effectively start a process of winning the trust and confidence of the society,” Williams told the officers.
He also said that the course was the first for the year and many more of a similar nature would be conducted throughout the remaining months of 2011 and onwards.
Additionally, the COP said facilities at the Police Training School would not only be used for Recruit Courses, but also for many other developmental programmes planned for members of the force.
The Junior Supervisors Course is aimed at preparing junior supervisors to assist and mould junior constables in normal force policies and how to perform their duties efficiently and effectively in order to be more productive on a daily basis.
Fifteen officers attended the course; three from Nevis and 12 from police stations and outposts on St. Kitts.
Among those present at the Closing Ceremony were the OAS Representative to St. Kitts and Nevis, Starret Greene; Advisor in the Ministry of National Security Dr. Norgen Wilson; Force Chaplain Leroy Benjamin Jr.; Deputy COP Stafford Liburd, Assistant Commissioners Joseph Richardson and Ian Queeley; and Chief Fire Officer Hester Rawlins.
