Community policing going well, says Dominica’s police chief

The police force in Dominica bas been making great strikes to engage communities, says the island’s top cop.

The focus on smaller social groups has been made in an effort to keep them safe from violence and crime.

Last year saw a pilot community policing scheme launched in the norther-eastern community of Calibishie, and Chief of Police Daniel Carbon is is reporting that the programme is already reaping rewards.

At a press conference held by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force last week, the Commissioner of Police, commended the community of Calibishie for their cooperation.

“The people there – the expatriates, the locals, the intellectuals, the farmers, the ordinary man – they understand the consequences of crime and so they’ve been working with us tirelessly,” he said.

“They are even putting their own private resources into the initiative.”

Programme expansion

The police commissioner made an appeal to Calibishie residents to continue their cooperation with the police.

Similar programmes will be held soon in Woodfordhill and Morne Prosper.

“I am asking Woodfordhill to bear patience with the police because you know there are times when police attention has to be diverted,” said Carbon.

“Recently my team was in Morne Prosper and we had a healthy dialogue with the community and Village Council there… we’ll be back there very soon.”

In addition to community initiatives, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force have said they have been conducting educational programmes in schools in the Roseau catchment area.

“We have a programme at the North East Comprehensive addressing delinquency and drug issues and deviant behaviours.”