ANNUAL REPORT ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 To Serve, Protect and Reassure ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Contents ABOUT US ............................................................................................................................................... 3 CORE VALUES ............................................................................................................................................. 4 ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 6 ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................................ 13 CRIME MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 29 FLEET MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................................................... 40 PLANT MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 45 ROAD POLICING ................................................................................................................................... 53 FRONT LINE POLICING .......................................................................................................................... 58 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................................................... 61 FINANCES ............................................................................................................................................. 63 REVENUE .............................................................................................................................................. 67 CAPACITY BUILDING ............................................................................................................................. 70 THE WAY FORWARD ............................................................................................................................ 76 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................................... 78 Page 2 of 89 ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 ABOUT US First established as the Barbados Police Force in 1835 with a primary mandate of order maintenance, the Royal Barbados Police Force has since evolved to become a dedicated law enforcement entity with expanded core functions that now include the detection and prevention of crime, traffic management and community engagement. These broad objectives are guided by a mission that is premised on a commitment to serve, protect and reassure. As reflected in its organizational statement, its overarching mandate is “to provide the highest quality police service in partnership with our community to ensure a safe and stable environment.” The Force’s style of management is heavily influenced by a hierarchal structure and a paramilitary approach to discipline and operational procedures. In its embryonic and early developmental years, the Force had an operational staff of approximately one hundred and forty men and no form of motorized transport. Today, the operational strength of the Force is over one thousand male and female officers who are supported by a civilian staff of approximately two hundred. A range of policing services are now provided through the use of technology, foot patrols, a motorized fleet, a mounted corp, a maritime policing element and aerial support from the air wing section of the Regional Security System. The Force also benefits from its alliance with international agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Scotland Yard, INTERPOL and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. In 1997, the Royal Barbados Police Force became the first law enforcement entity in the English speaking Caribbean to achieve international certification by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Force maintains full membership with the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police and the Regional Security System. Page 3 of 89 ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 The maintenance of its professional image, its commitment to high ethical standards and a firm recognition in the value of public trust is deeply rooted in individual adherence to the following CORE VALUES Respect for We recognise that officers will on a daily basis become involved in numerous Human Life and varied human encounters and when warranted, may use force in carrying out their duties. However, our appreciation for the value and sanctity of life is such that we are committed to ensuring that such force is used with restraint and in proportion to the legitimate objective to be achieved Integrity We strive to be honourable and trustworthy in our personal and professional endeavors Accountability We are accountable to the communities we serve Impartiality We are honest, truthful and transparent in our dealings with one another and with members of our communities. We treat everyone in a fair, sensitive and ethical manner Reliability We are responsive, professional and dependable in our dealings with one another and our communities Team Work We work as a team, making use of our collective skills, opinions and abilities Page 4 of 89 ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 ABBREVIATIONS COP: Commissioner of Police DCP: Deputy Commissioner ACP: Assistant Commissioner of Police S/Supt: Senior Superintendent Supt: Superintendent ASP: Assistant Superintendent of Police Insp: Inspector of Police S/Sgt: Station Sergeant Sgt: Sergeant P.C: Police Constable S.C: Special Constable DOM: Director of Music ADM: Assistant Director of Music BA: Band Apprentice OPS. Support: Operations Support ADMIN. SUPPORT: Administrative Support CID: Criminal Investigations Department CRO: Criminal Records Office FSCU: Forensic Scenes of Crime Unit RSS: Regional Security System FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigations IBIS: Integrated Ballistics Identification System AFIS: Automated Fingerprint Identification System CAP: Chapter Page 5 of 89 ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Legal mandate The Commissioner of Police, by virtue of section 8 of the Police Act, CAP 167 of the Laws of Barbados, is responsible to the Governor General for the efficient administration and governance of the Royal Barbados Police Force and for the proper expenditure of all public moneys appropriated for the service thereof. The submission of this annual report, not only satisfies an administrative requirement as imposed upon the Commissioner of Police, but also provides a comprehensive review of the performance of the Force in 2013. In 2013, the Royal Barbados Police Force was again entrusted with the responsibility of detecting and preventing crime, enforcing applicable laws; crime and traffic management; and the general maintenance of law and order. A natural response to this broad mandate was the development of a mix of policing initiatives that were informed by the Strategic Plan for the period 2011- 2014. No Annual Policing Plan was developed for the year under review. However, policing initiatives were designed to focus on core areas such as crime management, community engagement, road policing and human resource management. Policing environment The work of the police was conducted in an external environment characterised by factors such as a continuing depressed economy, pockets of industrial unrest, preparations for local general elections, tensions that were occasioned by a Government imposed reduction in the staff of the public service and the continued fear of crime. Of equal import is the fact that the internal policing environment was impacted by factors such as limited physical and human resources, the continued impact of an ageing physical plant, continued lag in the development of organizational capacity to fully exploit modern technology and the effect of the absence of a full suite of supporting modern legislation. Page 6 of 89 ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Policing was directed at a population of approximately 280,000, with a resulting police to population ratio of 1:512. Strategic direction At the beginning of the year the strategic command and direction of the Royal Barbados Police Force was again entrusted to Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, with support coming from a Senior Command Team that comprised a Deputy Commissioner of Police, four (4) Assistant Commissioners of Police and a Chief Financial Officer. The work of this strategic grouping was expected to be supported by one thousand, four hundred and eighteen (1418) sworn police officers, ninety-three (93) Parish Constables and a civilian staff of three hundred and thirty-seven (337) persons. Undoubtedly, the most significant event that affected the Force was the placing of Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin on Administrative Leave, by the Governor General, acting on the recommendation of the Police Service Commission on June 17, 2013. Although the Force was never provided with details of any specific allegation of wrong- doing, the official reason given by the Police