Graduates of the course: The training initiative is intended to equip all officers with skills essential to properly investigate crime.

This Force-wide training initiative, the first of its kind, is intended to equip all officers with skills essential to properly investigate crime and includes both theory and practical applications for crime-scene preservation, witness interviewing, victim support, note taking and interviewing techniques. So far, three sets of cohorts have been successful.

Commissioner of Police Reynell Frazer is optimistic about the benefits to be derived from such a thorough, force-wide, internationally recognized training initiative.

“For the first time, we will have all our frontline officers freshly equipped with the latest in investigative skills. Despite the need for it, training such as this is ordinarily very costly overseas and therefore only a few officers benefited. With the help of the faculty and staff of the HLSCC and the monies made available through the Governor’s Office, we have the capacity to deliver this training to all our officers and ultimately, we will have the capability to deliver a more professional service to the public,” he said.

Deputy of Police Mr. David Morris who attended the completion ceremony last Friday explained that the course provides an opportunity for both sergeants and constables to review their knowledge base with a view to developing their existing investigative skills and learning new innovative techniques.

“We are moving the force forward through our frontline officers to become more citizen-focused in their policing practice with this course. Since it is a pass or fail course we know that officers are taking away what they have learnt and can now be expected to deliver a more professional policing service while meeting the need of our communities. In fact, these standards will be used as part of the evaluation of officers’ performance from here forward,” the DCP said.

As expressed by the last two student respondents, Sergeant George Mason of the third cohort highly commended the quality of the course and information presented by the trainer Consultant Mr. David Winter who received a standing ovation from the students. In thanking the RVIPF Senior Management Team for making the training available, he said, “You recognised that if you want us to give a good service you have to invest in us and we thank you for that.”

This six-month programme will include another four cohorts trained in investigative skills with advance and supervisor skills training for detectives and sergeants.

Consultant and trainer for the course David Winter has written, produced, delivered and evaluated crime skills training for officers in the U.K. and Caribbean for the past seven years. His policing career spans some 30 years.