BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN just a matter of days, the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will be graced with the presence of a large contingent of Senior Police Officers drawn from within the Caribbean Region.
They will be in the Federation for the 30th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, specifically designed for Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).
The event will be held over a five-day period at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, which is also the venue for the Welcome Reception scheduled for Sunday (May 10) at 7:00 p.m.
Speaking at a Press Briefing yesterday afternoon (May 7), Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Crime, Ian Queeley gave a background to the 30th Edition of the Conference, noting that the theme is “Community Policing: Delivering Quality Policing Service” while emphasising that crime fighting involves not only the police but also the civil populace.
“Far too often the blame is laid squarely at the feet of the police in terms of the crime fighting apparatus within the society. We believe that the crime fighting strategies must be all-engaging and communities on a whole have a very important role to play. All social organisations...the church, the school and parenting, because if we prevent crime we won’t have to detect crime! And so the theme is appropriately chosen.”
Queeley also made reference to part of a statement made by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy during his first Monthly Press Conference since taking Office following the February 16, 2015 General Elections.
“Those of you who would have listened to the Prime Minister’s press conference some time ago, he indicated quite clearly that one of the strategic initiatives that the High Command of this Police Force brought to him was to implement traditional and new policing initiatives. So, the theme fits squarely within that.”
The ACP declared that a number of crime fighting experts would also be present to assist in expounding on the theme.
He noted that one such person is Dr. Lee Browne, a man regarded as the father of Community Policing, and that he would be the keynote speaker of the first session immediately after the Opening Ceremony on Monday.
“It is worthy to note also that Dr. Browne is a former New York City Police Commissioner, a former Mayor and Police Chief of Houston, a former Public Safety Commissioner of Atlanta, former University Professor and scholar, and Chairman and CEO of Browne Group of International Companies.
“So, Dr. Browne will be bringing a wealth of knowledge to share not only with the Police Commissioners, but he has so graciously accepted our invitation to host a workshop on Community Policing following his presentation,” he added.
ACP Queeley also informed that the High Command had instructed the Force’s PRO to notify the various Community Policing organisations and groups as well as stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis that they are invited to the workshop.
He said the invitation was sent out with the hope that after their attendance, the transfer of knowledge would help the police in their crime fighting strategy.
In addition to Dr. Browne, Queeley said a high-power team of experts would also be making presentations.
“This 30th Edition of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police will attract some very high-power delegates, including persons from the FBI, the NCIS, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, persons from the UK, persons from as far as Gibraltar, and we are expecting that most of the Caribbean Commissioners will attend.”
Among the topics to be discussed are: Building Trust; Enhancing Community and Police Relations; Community Policing – the Way Forward to Secure the Region; the major Community Policing Initiatives being implemented in the Federation; and Community and Police Collaborating to Effectively Manage Crime, which he stated would be presented by Dr. Cedric Alexander, the President of the National Organisation of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Also speaking at the Press Briefing was Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Operations, Vaughan Henderson.
In his brief remarks, Henderson said: “The Community Policing initiative is at the top of the agenda and our collaboration with other community groups, helping in juvenile justice and the de-escalation of violence, all of this providing a holistic approach to the crime situation that we have.
“I think that all of us can agree that the crime problem in St. Kitts and Nevis is not policing problem alone; it’s a problem where all stakeholders have to come together and share in the solution in terms of solving the crime situation that we are having.”
He also spoke to the High Command’s expectations of the Conference.
“Coming out of this Conference, we are hoping that all the stakeholders involved, all of the civic-minded individuals, all of the community groups, all of the ideas from the regional counterparts will come together in a tangible way. And out of those ideas, we will strengthen our local and domestic initiatives in working with Operation Future and our coalition partners to bring forth some tangible ways in the fight against crime...”
The Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police was formally established in Castries, St. Lucia by a resolution passed by 13 members on August 20, 1987.
The stated objectives at that time were: Regional cooperation in the suppression of criminal activities in areas such as narcotics; terrorism and organised crime; exchange of information in criminal investigations; sharing of common services, which included training, forensic analysis research, and the effective management of law enforcement agencies.
ACP Queeley however pointed out that since then changes were made to the organisation’s mission and objectives.
“In 2000 the mission and objectives were redefined in order to be relevant to reach the current aspirations. These are identified in the Constitution and the Bylaws: The ACCP is the principle organisation promoting and facilitating collaboration and cooperation in the development of policing strategies, systems and procedures; the professional and technical skills development of police officers; and proactive measures to prevent crime and to improve community policing.”
The 30th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police will conclude on Friday (May 15).
