Head of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Rudolph Proctor, was at the recently-concluded Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) Conference in Bermuda at which their discussions focused on gang and youth violence.
The April 29 – May 2 conference had as its overall theme: “Joining up Police and public partnerships; prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies to tackle gang and youth violence.”
The ACCP committed to sharing all crime scene ballistics data secured in their own territories to be cross-compared throughout the region,” a press release stated. “Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network (RIBIN) is a technical solution that digitally stores bullet and bullet casing data and cross compares with all other crime scene data, being able to connect a given cartridge to an identified weapon, or having been fired by the same weapon at different scenes or in different countries.”
The release continued: “The commitment to share data will enable faster identification of criminally held weapons, the routes used to smuggle [them] into the region and ability to link a recovered firearm to every crime scene it has been used at, and evidence of the criminal’s use of that weapon. One example shared with the Commissioners identified a single weapon used in over 16 separate murders.
“The agreement by all Commissioners will see that capability available to all countries within the region in the coming months and as soon as electronic connectivity has been established. The faster we can identify, link and remove weapons from the criminals, the quicker we can be in stopping the violence and safeguarding our communities.
“The Caribbean Association of Police Commissioners has committed to securing trauma kits and the training in their use for every police officer and police vehicle in the region. By doing so, we will not only better equip and safeguard our officers, but we will be better equipped to save the lives of gun victims, when minutes mean the difference between life and death.”
The newly-elected President of the ACCP is Commissioner David Baines of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. He was quoted as making the following statement:
“We came to Bermuda committed to better safeguarding our people.We have shared actions, initiatives, legislation and solutions. All of us leave better equipped to deal with the problems we face in our own country.
“The resolutions to establish RIBIN and trauma training are about strategic capacity building intended to stem the flow of weapons into the region to stop the violence and killing. More literally, [the intention] is to stem the flow of blood and save a life, when minutes mean the difference between life and death for a gunshot victim.
“Commitments only mean something when they are acted upon and the words and intentions uttered in Bermuda are evidenced in practice on the streets of the nations we protect. It is my promise [that] I will do all in my power to secure sponsorship, equipment, training in supporting colleagues across the region to make this commitment a reality.”
