The man entrusted with handling Community Policing in Dominica, Sergeant David Andrew Jr, believes that while Community policing is a proactive process, the collaborative approach now being used helps prevent and reduce crime.
Sergeant David Jr, the Coordinator of Community Policing, spoke at a press conference of the Ministry of National Security held at the Police Conference room, explaining that his concept of Community Policing focuses on “increasing community involvement, forming bonds between a community and law enforcement, and establishing an effective law enforcement presence in the community.”
As a result, he stated that the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) has successfully executed a series of community policing initiatives throughout the island.
He also specified that these committees have been formed in the areas of “Grand Bay, Pointe Michel, Tarish Pit, Wesley, and Bath Estate with the aim of meeting and discussing issues that impact the safety and security of each of these communities and coming up with workable solutions.”
“Critical to the advancement of community policing is the formation of committees comprising a wide cross-section of members of the community to include Village Council members, principals, teachers, community leaders, farmers, and the youth,” he said.
Youth engagement by the Community Policing Unit, he explained, was a key aspect of the programme.
“During the last school year, the majority of schools across the islands have been visited by the police. Several lectures and student interventions were conducted, all with the intention to further improve safety at our schools by enhancing our presence at each school by assigning a school resource officer to every primary and secondary school.”
He pointed out that the role of the school’s Resource Officer is to visit their respective schools regularly, engage with the principals, parents, teachers, counselors, provide support, give advice, and deal with any security concerns at the schools.
“Additionally, a youth mentorship programme will commence shortly, targeting youths in various communities who need guidance and support, and the mentors will comprise a wide range of professionals, including doctors, lawyers, police officers, firemen, prison officers, and other fields of discipline as we seek to empower our youth in the right direction of becoming outstanding, law-abiding individuals in our society, hence reducing juvenile delinquency,” he remarked.
He cited the example of the Wesley community, where youth unemployment was directly impacting the likelihood of criminal activity, saying, “The offense of theft of agricultural produce has caused substantial losses to farmers. The police have met with the farmers, heard their concerns, and we have collectively developed strategies to combat this particular crime.”
They have also engaged the youth in Wesley, all to understand their concerns.
The police, he stated, have also involved the Youth Development Officer in the Community Policing Committee, thus enabling them to address the needs of the youth in terms of skilled training and to ensure that they are productive, positively engaged, and ultimately gainfully employed.
Andrew also mentioned that several community work crews have been conducted across the island.
According to him, the public’s response thus far has been “very positive.”
Neighbourhood watches, he stated, are another critical initiative of Community Policing and have been formed in the communities of St. Aroment, Goodwill, Castle Comfort, Wall House, Jimmit, and Morne Daniel.
“This has enhanced the safety and security in these areas, with Community members actively participating in collaboration with the police to identify suspicious persons and criminal activities such as theft and burglary, which has led to the arrest and also successful prosecution of criminals operating in these areas,” the Sergeant stated.
As part of the Community Policing, another initiative is the removal of derelict vehicles and according to him, this has been a major concern impacting various communities across the island because of “the obstruction of the free flow of traffic congestion it creates, and the environmental and health challenges these vehicles pose to our communities.”
He revealed that the Police have teamed up with the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC) to rid the streets of these vehicles, and to date, over “150 of these vehicles have been removed from various locations across the island and disposed of at the Fond Cole Landfill.”
“Approximately over 300 derelict vehicles have been tagged for removal across Dominica. Consequently, this has significantly reduced congestion, eliminated traffic hazards, and improved the cleanliness and safety of our communities.”
The police are encouraging every member of the public to partner with them in these community policing initiatives to ensure that safer communities are achieved and maintained.