BASETTERE, St. Kitts - THE Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force has received a fillip in its investigative skills as 18 of its members and two officers of the Customs and Excise Department yesterday (Aug. 12) successfully completed a two-week Investigators Course.
The course, which was facilitated by the UK-based Bramshill Policing Advisers Limited and conducted at the Police Training Complex in Basseterre, concluded with a ceremony that saw Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Osmond Petty and members of the High Command in attendance.
In his opening remarks, Head of the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), Superintendent Andre Mitchell said the course was aimed at enhancing the skills of the Force’s investigative arm, which include the Criminal Investigations Department and the VCU.
He explained the purpose of training and what benefits it could bring to the law enforcement agency.
“Training represents an initiative to equip investigators with the requisite knowledge that would improve service delivery. We live in a dynamic world where practices are changing, so it is therefore necessary for management to have a textured sensibility and appreciation that development of its members is critical to the functionality and necessary if the mission of the organisation is going to be achieved.”
Robert Varey, a retired police officer from the UK and one of the two facilitators, told the gathering that continuous training is essential for the development of law enforcement officers.
“There is always a need for training. We were advised to come and train the officers on specifics around crime scene preservation and I think there is considerable experience here. The big challenge will be…can the students take what they learnt here unto the field and to implement it.”
He also spoke briefly on his part as a trainer and commended the participants on their commitment and willingness to learn while on the course.
“People are in trouble and need our help. It’s about making our communities safer. Being a trainer is a difficult job but that was made easier by the participation of the students. And can I say that you’ve made our job easy this fortnight because of the effort, commitment, willingness and participation that you played in this course.”
Directing his remarks to Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd, Varey added, “Commissioner, if this is a sample of the officers serving within your Force, it is in good hands.”
The other facilitator, Steve France-Sargeant, also commended the participants on their progress made during the course and declared that he is more than convinced that they are now equipped to take the challenge to criminals.
Permanent Secretary Petty also commended the participants for their successful completion of the course and, from his Ministry’s standpoint, noted the importance of garnering assistance from the Bramshill Policing Advisers Limited.
“I want to highlight where training fits into the bigger picture. Our advisors are assisting us to develop our Strategic Plan. The Six-Point Action Plan is not the entire plan; it is a summary of plans upfront for 2015-2016. Our Strategic Plan is really a three-year plan that runs to 2018.”
In his brief remarks, Prime Minister Harris told the law enforcement officers that they must be relentless in the pursuit of criminals.
“Never must the agents of law and order recoil; as when the agents of law and order recoil the criminal elements advance.”
He emphasised the importance of restoring the peace and tranquility citizens and residents enjoyed in twin-island Federation during the olden days.
“It is the hope of the citizens and the expectation of all of those living here that we restore St. Kitts and Nevis to the calm and tranquil place it had been whilst we were growing up, where homicides were rear or non-existent. And I believe that beautiful day can be restored by bringing the best that the country can afford in terms of specialised services and expertise, technology and ‘know how’.”
Dr. Harris declared that his Administration is “attempting to fulfil the most important mandate…to keep the citizens of this beautiful country safe”.
Two of the participants, Constable Rohan Laborde and Woman Constable Kashina Burke briefly highlighted some of the knowledge they acquired on the course.
“It was very interactive. We learned about the Golden Hour, Role of the Senior Investigative Officer, Case Management and Exhibit Handling, and our minds have been widened as investigators,” Laborde said, while Burke added that they also learnt about the PEACE Model.
She explained that the PEACE Model speaks to P as in Planning and Preparation; E as in Engage and Explain; A as in Account; C as in Closure; and E as in Evaluation.
