The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the Regional Security System (RSS)launched an automated Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS) for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF). Held at the Gros Islet Police Station on June 12, the launch marked the official handover of computer hardware and software to the RSLPF to support the implementation of key activities under the UNDP’s CariSECURE Project.
CariSECURE aims to strengthen evidence-based decision-making for citizen security by improving the quality and quantity of crime data collected. The project simultaneously builds the capacity of actors within the sector to analyze this data for more effective strategizing and policy making around crime and violence. The automation of data points atkey institutions within the criminal justice system, such as the RSLPF, is seen as critical to meeting the project’s objectives.
Consequently, one of the key activities planned for Saint Lucia is a pilot of the Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS) at the Gros Islet and Micoud Police Stations and at the Research and Development Unit of the RSLPF. The newlylaunched police report application will allow officers from pilot stations to capture real time data on incidents reported and will transition police stations from paper-based documenting to a digital format.
The PRMIS represents the first module of a broader Crime Information Management System (CIMS) being developed under the CariSECURE project and will be piloted for a period of six months as part of a process of fine-tuning the software for full scale deploymentand informing the development of other modules in the system.
In the near future, citizens can expect improved efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple crime incidence reports; victims/witnesses will now have the opportunity to provide more detailed accounts to support investigators in closing cases quickly and efficiently.Police will gain vital ‘intelligence’ on crime hot spots, as well as ‘persons of interest’, including their traits and crime footprint, as well as; allowing all relevant stakeholders in the justice system to share crime data among themselves by opening up communication channels.
The transformative PRMIS will rely on citizens to work closely with law enforcement in the battle against crime and violence. The new digital process involves many detailed questions and may be time consuming.However, victims’ responses will be used by police to better understand and respond to crime, gaining better intelligence onperpetrators.
The launch is followed by a three-day training exercise at the Harbor Club from June 12 to 14. Thirty officers from the two pilot stations, RSLPF IT Unit, Research and Development Unit, and Crime Intelligence Unitare expected to benefit from hands-on familiarization with the new application, a crucial element to the pilot process.
UNDPis supporting activities with the RSLPF through USD$150,000 of UNDP funds earmarked for equipment, training and other activities with the RSLPF under the CariSECURE Project.