Cultural mix a major challenge in community policing – CoP Morris
Seven carefully selected volunteer police officers were today presented to the communities via the launch in the presence of a number of district leaders, namely Honourable Delores Christopher, Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines, Hon Andrew A. Fahie, and Hon Mark H. Vanterpool.
The officers are Constable #268 Damian Ash for Huntums Ghut/Lower Estate, Road Town Constable #142 Curtis Roberts, Purcell Estate/Baughers Bay - Constable #31 Alvin Bolton, Fat Hogs Bay/East End/Long Look - Constable #152 Clyde Potter, West End - Constable #244 Annelle Francis, The Valley, Virgin Gorda - Constable #189 Dwight Williams and North Sound Virgin Gorda - Constable #140 Shem Stay.
A series of meetings will be hosted in the communities where the officers are posted to formally introduce them as the local Neighbourhood Officer CoP Morris said.
“Listed, as number one, among the six strategic priorities of the Force, that is to improve public trust and confidence in the RVIPF,” CoP Morris stated at the launch activity. He also noted that is a challenging undertaking particularly for law enforcers who work in communities where terms such as “us” and “them” are so commonly used. It is even more challenging in communities where there is more of a cultural mix than before and where people no longer know their neighbours.
“That is why we are placing dedicated officers in communities where their partners are literally the members of that community and where their effectiveness is based on whether they are able to build that partnership, trust and confidence,” CoP Morris told those at the launch activity.
He was very confident that the officers selected understand their responsibility since they applied for the positions based on that understanding. They have also been in training and are now prepared for their roles, he said.
“Today they officially report for duty as Neighbourhood Police Officers under the Community Safety Department headed by Sergeant Tilda Henry but based in their local police stations.” CoP further added that he often refer to his officers as ‘agents of change’ as they forge relationships with residents and business people in order to bring together persons from all cultures, to make a difference especially in the more challenging communities.
Neighbourhood Policing has been instituted in constabularies around the world and is effective in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour even in tough neighbourhoods.
While it is not a quick change, with time CoP Morris hopes to see the benefits as officers work closely with members of their local neighbourhood communities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and simultaneously reduce the fear of crime.
“The work of police officers is often glamorized in action-packed movies with lots of drama and adventure. Community and neighbourhood policing is about getting back to our core values and principles to reduce crime, maintain tranquility, keep communities safe and reduce the fear of crime. It is also about detecting crime and tackling disorder where it occurs,” CoP Morris noted.
10 Responses to “Cultural mix a major challenge in community policing – CoP Morris”
Next have rural police, I am sure people will be willing to contribute to have visible officers.
And pleas give them comfortable shoes.