The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is stepping into a new era of crime-fighting with the launch of an innovative data-driven system. At a press conference Monday morning, Police Commissioner Verne Garde expressed his enthusiasm, describing how the new technology has the power to transform the way officers protect and serve the island’s communities.
“So for this year, we’ve been in a situation where we have done some great work in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force,” said Commissioner Garde. He noted the recovery of over 85 firearms, with corresponding arrests and charges in most cases. The inmate population at the Bordelais Correctional Facility has increased from 550 to 595 in recent months, reflecting heightened law enforcement efforts.
Commissioner Garde emphasised that the new data system would centralise data from all police stations, departments, and units, providing analytical tools to assist in crime management. “No longer do we have to guess,” he stated. “The system allows officers to access detailed profiles of suspects based on physical descriptions and behavioral patterns.”
“All we have to do is just log on the system and the system will tell us. So we will describe the data. We need to see how many persons, for example, with an oval face, with a broad nose, with a protruding forehead, that is male, that may have the propensity to commit rape”
He also stressed the importance of proper system use and integrity within the force. A rigorous vetting process is underway, with 160 officers already vetted and plans to vet an additional 160 by year end. The goal is to achieve 100% vetting by 2025.
“The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is going places,” Garde concluded, adding that the force is now focused on proactive policing, leveraging innovation to enhance crime control.
