CRIME DOWN 7%

There has been a seven per cent reduction in crime so far this year.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ag.) – Crime, Colvin Bishop, stated that for 2018, “there was an overall total of 1 729 cases of crime as compared with 1 861 cases for the same period in the year 2017, which is a seven per cent reduction in our crime”.

Further outlining details, he added: “In the area of major crime to state a few, there were five murders so far for 2018 when compared with four for the same period in 2017. Robberies were 56 compared with 60 [and] rape ten compared to 22. Aggravated burglary nine compared with 12 [and] theft from persons 24 compared with 33. Commercial burglary 44 compared with 51 and other burglary 219 when compared with 217 for the year 2017.”

Bishop spoke at the graduation and closing ceremony for the Basic Criminal Investigation Course last Friday at the Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC).

Some of the topics covered during the two-week duration of the course included the role and qualities of a good detective, sexual offences, and theoretical and practical aspects of interviewing. A total of 21 participants graduated. This figure comprised personnel from the Royal Barbados Police Force, one member of the Barbados Defence Force and one member from the Barbados Coast Guard.

Bishop told graduates that with the new skills they have obtained, he is expecting them to further assist with the reduction in crime.

He reminded graduates that “in performing your duties as police officers, you should remain objective at all times, leaving nothing to chance during an investigation”. He further stated that “as a detective, you need a good working knowledge of the rules of evidence. You are the person responsible for collecting and preserving evidence for use in a trial, you must be able to distinguish between what is factual and admissible in a court of law".