ComPol Wants to Adopt Model to Tackle Sex Crime and Child Abuse
Chester Williams
The Commissioner of Police along with representatives of Ministry of Human Development, UNICEF and B.D.F. were on a working visit to Jamaica to learn more about the island’s model to tackle sex crimes and child abuse. It is called CISOCA, the Center for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, which is a part of its police force. Chester Williams says they are satisfied with what they saw and have gotten commitments from the Jamaica Constabulary Force that they are willing to assist Belize to replicate a similar model. Commissioner Williams shares more about the visit.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We believe that the model in Jamaica is a good one for us to start with and so we went to see how that operates as well as to look at the issue to see how Jamaica deals with children. During that visit we look at the issue of how Jamaica deals with children. And during that visit we met with Commissioner of Police Major General Anthony Anderson. He has pledged to see how best he can assist Belize in setting up this center, as well as to see how to collaborate in other areas of policing such as training and capacity building. He has also said that once we are ready to set up the center, he is prepared to send one of his officers from Jamaica to Belize to guide us to set up the center so that we have what needs to be in place so that we get it up and running. We also visited the Denham Town and area when they have a safe zone. It was one of the most violent area in Jamaica and what they did with the police and military, over the past year they established check points and have the police and military on the inside with the safe zone; then dealing with the gang issues they have conflict officers who work with different gangs to see can work with gang members to diffuse the feuds among them. Denham town went from averaging five murders for the day where currently it is so peaceful that nothing is happening within. They also established a training center within fro trainings of different types of employment. I think it is something we can do through CYDP.”
Williams told the media that he also paid a visit to the JCF staff college and is hoping get a few officers enrolled in some training courses.
