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Posted on July 23, 2021 | by The Royal Bahamas Police Force
Commissioner's Foreword 2021 Policing Plan
It is my distinct privilege to present the 2021 Policing Plan as Commissioner of Police for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. This is the second Plan under my remit, which is mandated by Section 9 of the Police Force Act, 2009. The Royal Bahamas Police Force is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Bahamians, residents, and visitors. On March 11, 2020 a global occurrence took place as our Country continued to grapple with the loss and devastation of Hurricane Dorian on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a global health crisis and it was subsequently deemed a worldwide pandemic. The virus impacted the entire Commonwealth of The Bahamas with 7,887 confirmed cases by the end of 2020 including 288 members of the Force.
As an immediate proactive measure, the Force implemented a '10 Step Guideline to COVID-19' aimed at educating, informing and preparing all employees for the impending eventualities. The Force reviewed and altered its administrative and operational procedures to contend with the virus. Each member of the Force is required to observe all COVID-19 safety protocols including social distancing, wearing face masks and sanitizing on a regular basis while at work. All police stations were sanitized and a robust internal quarantine contingency was implemented to mitigate further exposure and/or spread of the virus. The Force modified the way it conducted meetings, training sessions and briefings with the expanded use of technology. Significant changes were made to the civilian staff work schedule to include flextime and working remotely from home.
Although the year 2020 was challenging for the Force, we remained resolute in the fight against crime. Preliminary figures for 2020 indicate that major crimes across the entire Bahamas decreased by 16% when compared to 2019. Crimes against the person decreased by 12% with 724 incidents, compared to 914 in 2019. Property crimes decreased by 15% with 3,519 incidents, compared to 4,128 in 2019. There were regional decreases in New Providence and the Family Islands District at rates of 17% and 21% respectively when compared to 2019.
The Force was successful in fulfilling all 7 areas of priority as outlined in the 2020 Commissioner's Policing Plan. Based on this accomplishment, we were able to reduce the overall crime rate and the fear of crime in a number of ways. We kept communities safe by providing high police visibility throughout the Commonwealth as a crime deterrent strategy. We ran daily operations that targeted hotspots and prolific offenders as a crime preventative measure. We restructured the Mobile Division with additional officers and tactical resources to launch the Operational Command Division putting more police patrols throughout New Providence and Grand Bahama.
We executed numerous search warrants and detained persons on outstanding warrants of arrest to spin the wheel of justice. We conducted road checks and engaged in aggressive stop and search tactics to remove illegal firearms and dangerous drugs from the streets of The Bahamas. Notably, we seized 279 illegal firearms, 4,044 rounds of ammunition, and charged 178 persons for possession of illegal firearms. We also seized 4,301 pounds of marijuana, 1,505 marijuana plants, and 165 pounds of cocaine. As a result, we arrested 1,383 suspects and charged 1,120 persons for possession of dangerous drugs.
We expanded the investigative capacity of the Financial Crime Investigations Branch with additional officers and training. All officers at the Branch are certified at international standards to conduct financial crime investigations. As a result, we contributed to having The Bahamas removed from the Financial Action Task Force's Grey List and placed the Country in a position for consideration of removal from the European Union's Black List. We conducted anti-money laundering and compliance training at local banks and insurance companies to educate employees within the Financial Services Industry on the latest scams. We assisted several countries with money laundering investigations effectively seizing millions of dollars in cash and assets as proceeds of crime.
We conducted thousands of traffic stops and cited motorists that were in violation of traffic laws. We employed speed guns to monitor our highways and crackdown on reckless drivers as a means to encourage road safety. We mobilized officers throughout The Bahamas and issued over 18,000 Fixed Penalty Notices. We investigated 8,516 Road Accident Reports. Based on our road safety measures and strategy we saw a 6% decline in traffic fatalities and 31% decline in road accidents. We utilized our community reach through the National Neighborhood Watch Council, Urban Renewal and the National Crime Prevention Office to educate the public on road safety, domestic violence, and crime prevention tips.
We also educated the Force on domestic violence and reinvigorated our relationship with the Bureau of Women's Affairs, the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre, the Department of Social Services and our international affiliates on Women's Affairs. We witnessed the ascension of women police officers to key positions within the Force including the Deputy Commissioner's Office.
We amplified our community policing message using our website and social media platform, talk shows, documentaries, public service announcements, literature and seminars. We engaged the youth of our Nation face to face and through virtual platforms with various positive initiatives. We instituted a youth band and established a Cadets Program in Inagua, North Andros and South Andros. We hosted youth camps and sporting events as an outlet to keep young people occupied and out of trouble. We conducted lectures and seminars to dissuade young people from joining gangs and/or engaging in criminal activity.
We created 144 Neighborhood Watch Groups in conjunction with the National Neighborhood Watch Council throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as a means to bridge the gap between the police and the community. We embarked on the, "We Are One" neighborhood cleanup campaign that was sponsored by the Ministry of National Security to revitalize targeted areas in New Providence. We secured and distributed more than one million dollars in goods to further bolster our community policing efforts throughout the communities in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands. The goods included grocery items, food vouchers, tablet computers, water, and personal protective supplies. Based on the coordinated efforts of the National Neighborhood Watch Council, Urban Renewal and the National Crime Prevention Office, we received the coveted 2020 Community Policing Leadership Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
We invested in our human capital and other key resources to assist with the overall management of crime. These investments are critical as the Force continues to transition into a learning organization. We invested in training in particular and improved our case file preparation process resulting in more successful prosecutions and higher conviction rates. We facilitated the training of 2,548 police officers in various disciplines to bolster internal service delivery and public confidence. An additional 207 law enforcement officers from other agencies were also a part of this training.
We demonstrated compassion to victims of serious crimes and conducted 101 family meetings, 151 follow-up telephone calls and 95 agency referrals for counselling. We collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and ran joint operations with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, The Bahamas Department of Immigration and The Bahamas Customs Department in addressing the overall fight against crime.
Finally, we integrated emerging technological advancements into our policing operations with the expansion of ShotSpotter technology; the establishment of Marco's Alert Digital Platform; the mobilization of drone technology; the upgrade and expansion of closed circuit television (CCTV); and the introduction of body worn cameras and dashboard cameras. We upgraded and improved our information communications technology platform throughout the family islands as we seek to deliver superior customer service to the Bahamian people.
The Force remains committed to providing policing services that are relevant to the changing policing environment. To that end, the Force will continue to recruit suitable persons into the Police Training College to enlist as recruit constables. We have placed high priority on training and we will continue to diversify our staff through the employment of university graduates with varying professional disciplines that will add value to the Organization.
The strength of the Force currently stands at 3,570 sworn police officers and reserves. Due to the attrition factors, 93 police officers exited the Force in 2020 including 25 senior police officers. An additional 121 police officers are expected to retire by the end of 2021. This figure includes 36 senior police officers at an estimated retirement cost of $5.547m including $3.060m in gratuities and $936k in salaries. The figure also includes 94 contracted police officers at an estimated retirement cost of $1.551m. These retirement numbers are daunting given the fact that we were unable sustain recruitment levels to supplant the retirement losses. Notwithstanding, the Force expects to conduct a recruitment exercise during the year as an initial step to rebuild the strength of the Force. The financial cost for the expected 150 new hires is estimated at $2.7m.
Notwithstanding, I will continue to realign the ranks of the Force to efficiently manage manpower resources at all police stations throughout The Bahamas. This strategy will effectively maximize the use of police officers in addressing public concerns and preventing crimes at the community level. In addition, attention will be given to operational support and investigative units to ensure that they are adequately staffed to provide the essential standard of service that is required for those areas.
Unfortunately, the illicit drug trade has remained high on our radar and we will continue to conduct special operations to derail, dismantle and disrupt drug peddlers. The illicit drug trade is arguably the main catalyst for gun violence perpetrated by criminal gangs and criminal enterprises. Cases of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery continue to be a major concern as illegal firearms are accessible to persons with criminal intentions.
Similarly, financial crimes have been a pivotal issue in the global arena with a renewed attention as a result of the coronavirus. Fraud, forgery and identity theft are more prevalent in The Bahamas as criminals are becoming desperate and innovative during the pandemic. Therefore, the officers at the Financial Crime Investigations Branch will remain on guard with cutting edge investigative tools and procedures to stem and disrupt the intentions of white collar criminals.
Road safety remains a key concern in the global arena. A road accident that results in death is a more acute problem in particular, because proven safety measures exist as a deterrent to traffic fatalities. The amount of people who have lost their lives as a result of speeding and/or reckless driving is far too high in The Bahamas. We will monitor and review our strategies in this regard to vigorously pursue offenders and educate the commuting public on road safety.
The youths of our Nation are very impressionable individuals and may sway at times in the wrong direction without a positive role model to guide their journey into adulthood. Our brave and outstanding police officers opt to fill this gap as the Force intends to institute several initiatives aimed at positively impacting young persons. We will continue with opportunities such as the Police Cadet Corp Program as a transitional tool to enlist the best recruit constables into the Force. The Force will also increase its involvement in community-based programmes within schools to reinforce its impending anti-gang and anti-firearms messaging campaign.
Our fundamental task of protecting the Nation is herculean in nature, and one that we take very seriously. The welfare of our officers is a high priority. Likewise, the safety of the people we are sworn to protect is equally as important because safety and security may affect an individual's well-being. I believe that every citizen, resident, and visitor in The Bahamas should be able to enjoy a good quality of life regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Notably, the Force's operating environment is dynamic and continues to rapidly change to reflect global trends. Accordingly, we will secure and foster productive partnerships nationally, regionally and internationally to remain fundamentally successful in today's policing climate. The Force's crime fighting strategies and policing initiatives are geared towards building safer communities through public support, discourse and participation. As we seek to police the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 2021, I have prioritized 7 key areas including:
1. Pre-emptive Operational Response to Novel Coronavirus Pandemic - The ability of the Force to provide continuity of policing services throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas during the coronavirus pandemic
2. Crime Prevention and Intervention Strategy Using Community Policing Initiatives to Build Public Trust and Confidence - The ability of the Force to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime through community policing initiatives and support
3. Criminal Investigations and Solvability Focal Point to Impact Crime - The ability of the Force to conduct thorough investigations to detect, solve, and reduce crime by using cutting edge investigative methods and tools
4. Information Communications Technology Expansion to Aid in Police Operations - The ability of the Force to expand and integrate cutting edge technology as a crime fighting staple
5. Traffic Laws Enforcement and Awareness to Reinforce Public Road Safety - The ability of the Force to keep all road commuters safe through education and enforcement of traffic laws
6. Gender Based Violence and Domestic Violence Awareness to Protect People at Risk of Harm - The ability of the Force to protect all members of society including at risk groups susceptible to gender based violence and domestic violence by prosecuting offenders and heightening awareness of these groups and
7. Youth Engagement through Community Relations Outreach to Bolster Anti-Gang and Anti-Firearm Initiatives - The ability of the Force to positively impact young people into becoming productive members of society through anti-gang and anti-firearms messaging.
These areas of priority will direct the Force in 2021 with emphasis on property crimes and behavioral crimes. Emphasis will also be placed on cases of gender based violence and domestic violence to dissuade exploitative practices of human trafficking, forced labor, and victimization. The Force will also focus on creating a safer Bahamas by renewing its focus on youth engagement, criminal investigations and crime prevention.
While the Force acknowledges the public's demand for a responsive police force, we will continue to manage crime with a steady hand. We expect to build on the public's support from our good will and community outreach initiatives in 2020. There is indeed an inextricable link between the Force and the general public. The Force requires the public's assistance in managing crime and making The Bahamas a safer place for residents and visitors alike. Simultaneously, the public requires the Force to fulfil its mandate as outlined in law by maintaining law and order, preserving the peace, preventing and detecting crime, apprehending offenders and enforcing all laws with which it is charged.
Accordingly, I am committed to holding each member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force accountable to the 7 areas of priority outlined in this Plan. As Commissioner of Police for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I can unequivocally state that we will do our endeavor best to retain the public's trust and confidence. We shall perform our duties in a manner that respects individual human rights on the primary tenets of fairness, sensitivity, and compassion for all.
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