EVEN AS THE Royal Barbados Police Force continues to struggle with personnel shortages, they are unable to fill numbers through the increased applications they are receiving.
According to Acting Commissioner Tyrone Griffith, too many applicants are unsuitable because of their association with illegal drug activity.
“We have had significant increases in applicants in more recent times – which is very encouraging – but what is of concern, however, is the number of young persons who disqualify themselves by the involvement in drug activity, drug abuse and the sale of drugs,” Griffith said.
He was addressing an audience of mainly Police Officers this morning at the Force’s Annual General Conference at Solidarity House.
Last July, the Acting Commissioner announced the force needed to fill 150 posts from the rank of Sergeant to Deputy Commissioner of Police. He also said the situation was unprecedented and could grind the Force to a halt.
Meanwhile, acting Attorney General Michael Lashley announced Government had embarked on a $76million capital programme for the construction of new police stations and civic centres at strategic locations.
Brathwaite said work would start on construction of a new Hastings, Christ Church Police Station in the first half of 2015 and on the Cane Garden, St Thomas Police Station later in the year. (MB)
The new Worthing/Hastings Police Station will be constructed on this lot. (Pictures by Ricardo Leacock)
An artist’s impression of the Worthing/Hastings Police Station.
Email: mariabradshaw@nationnews.com
