Academic courses to be offered to police
(CNS): Future recruits to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will be awarded a foundation Certificate in Policing Studies that could lead police officers to a degree or masters qualification, a release from the RCIPS announced today, describing this development as a ground-breaking partnership between police and the University College of the Cayman Islands. Later today, Friday 18 December, details of the new collaboration to introduce new policing qualifications for the force will be unveiled by Police Commissioner David Baines, when he attends a police recruit graduation ceremony in George Town.
Police say this brand new approach to training will mean that when police recruits have successfully completed their two year initial training they will be awarded a foundation Certificate in Policing Studies. The partnership approach signals a change in the way that training is undertaken by the police and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of RCIPS towards the personal and professional development of its staff.
The new qualification would ensure a firm foundation for future studies, leading to a degree or masters qualification. It is anticipated that this initiative will be introduced by the middle of 2010 and that all recruits to the RCIPS from that date will be enrolled as students of UCCI whilst in their probationary period.
“I am delighted and wholeheartedly endorse this move to further professionalize policing in the Cayman Islands,” Baines said. The skills required of officers are increasingly complex and this initiative will ensure their training and skills are recognized not just in policing, but as a transportable qualification and evidence of personal ability.”
UCCI President Roy Bodden said, “The collaboration between the University College of the Cayman Islands, and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service sets the template for future relations between UCCI and the community organizations. We at UCCI welcome this opportunity and look forward to a fruitful and productive association with the RCIPS.
“This collaboration comes at an opportune time, UCCI having just recently launched its Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in the social sciences. With minor modifications, this programme can be modified to cater to the special needs of the RCIPS. UCCI looks forward with eager anticipation to servicing the educational needs of the Caymanian community. As President, I commend the RCIPS for their visionary and modern approach to policing in a changing Caymanian society.”
Category: Local News
How about some training on processing crime scenes, handling witnesses, preserving evidence, following leads, basic awareness of surroundings and even customer service to get some co-operation etc etc?
The public has lost faith in theability of the police to solve crimes and secure prosecutions, too many times now the criminals (or their lawyers)have found loopholes and inconsistencies in police evidence because items have been lost or crime scenes trampled etc.
We have seen in recent times some people that were clearly guilty walking free on a technicality because of some botched evidence or failures by officers to follow up leads etc. I can even see this happening now on some of the cases that should be open and shut no worries. These criminals will soon be back on the streets (and the prison farm etc).
At least in the bank I don’t have to worry about a burglar/murderer/rapist going free due to a poorly filled out deposit slip. More than 7… out of 300+…nothing to brag about.
Hopefully one day you will need a degree in criminology to be a police officer in the Cayman Islands. Wishful thinking. Maybe they would stop botching up the crime scenes with a little training.
I have been in a special constables training class and seen first hand students being passed that had clearly not received a passing grade. Makes you wonder what happens with real officers.
I think they should go through a very thorough English grammar test before they go through their training. The test should be part of the application form and if they don’t pass the English/grammar/spelling test then they fail to go for the training.
The files going to Court depend on good written documents and its embarrassing for the Secretaries typing these files and Lawyers reading them – to have to endure trying to make sense of what has being written – so Police should be trained properly in every aspect to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
agreed 100%. Why not make sure the officers have a basic level of education before you hire them. Why you would hire someone who is pretty much illiterate to become a police officer especially one from another jurisdiction is beyond me. I have given a statement to the Police and the spelling and grammar was truly atrocious and again this was not a Caymanian Officer. Should they not have at least a minimum number of O levels or equivalent If you’re recruiting overseas Police Officers, surely you have a large pool to pick from. Also,there should be some sort of common sense/basic intelligence test. Many companies now use these when hiring staff. I can imagine its very hard to be a Police Officer without common sense. Whoever is responsible for the criteria for a Police Officer and the way they are hired, really needs to take a close look at this. I’m not bashing the Police. I’m sure there are some very good officers but in my limited dealings iwth the Police, I have met some who clearly do not have even basic literacy skills.
"Yes", I agree 100% As well. Taking It a Bit futher if you don’t mind.
It is not only the Police department,Many of the Government employee’s should go through basic skills exams when hired. Many are passed through the hiring process based on "Ohhh how ‘s your Mom,Dad,Grandpa or grandma doing".Boy i remember when your Grandma did such & such. " or "If you could get me this i’d get you in to this job". Unfortunatly this is still being done.
What I would like to see is the government involve the other departments such as Fire Service,Ambulance Customs & Immigration. Our Islands is not protected but the police force and they are not the only ones who put their lives at risk to save others.They are ambasadors to this island as well so they to should be educated.
Lets look at the other entities such as the fire service. Many graduates try to attain a job in this department. Some get the job some don’t, Many know that the story is "they got it easy" washing cars, playing domino and getting paid big money". What kind of education should you have to become a fire fighter? What i wonder is have anyone sat an listened to some of fire officers conversation.A lot have great knowledge others simply complain on there low pay, which is truly sad." it is sad to know they risk their lives to save ours in many situation, yet they are "crying out for help and no one is listening. As far as i understand they would like to get classes to futher educate them self." Many good officers have resigned or went to better paying jobs. "what is going on?" Is it that they are short of staff, what is it? Why Do we not hear about the fire service hiring are the firemen really under paid?" what about the ambulance staff how are they being treated when it comes to education and staff treatment.Many are exposed to many sickness just as the doctors and nurses who treat the ill or injured. Many are exposed to uncurable diseases. yes they recieve traning and the have equipment to handle these situations but there is more to it than that. Let’s remember that all three departments put their lives at risk every day to save lives.
They are also representing the Cayman Islands when on duty or off. I feel they should be educated in many aspects.
I had exactly the same experience in May after a traffic incident. I told the policewoman taking the statement that she had spelt ‘separate’ wrongly but she wouldn’t believe me. "It’s said, SEP-ER-RATE", she kept saying.
I gave up but before I signed it, I amended that spelling while she was distracted and looking away. She would have had to have left the room for half an hour to give me time to correct everything. It was embarrassing.
UCCI degrees, Certificate in Policing Studies??!! Commendable, but I would suggest that Commissioner Baines starts by giving many of his Officers classes in basic high-school English Grammar. Have you ever had to give a statement to an RCIPS Officer (they usually insist on writing the statement themselves)?? On two different occasions, years apart, it took me over two hours to give simple two-page statements due to the number of times I had to correct spelling, grammar, etc. In the end, once I ensured that the facts were correct, I just gave up and embarrassingly signed my name.
And before any anti-Caymanian comments are thrown in, neither officer was Caymanian.
Its is across the board. How about going to the bank and see young persons just out of high school struggling with basic arithmetic? Using a calculator and still getting it wrong.
Also note you can get a c average in the Cambridge or London GCE even with spelling mistakes. Many people have difficulties with the spelling of some words. English is the hardest language to learn.
Stop beating up on the officers. More than 7 officers and former officers have Law degrees and even Masters. Don’t use a broad brush to paint the whole RCIPS
"Seven"(7)…out of three hundred plus (300+)…that’s NOT a ratio to bragg about.
That’s atrocious, sad, alarming…and as long as we have that very low ratio of inteligent and qualified officers…the criminals will continue to get away far more than they should…and people will NOT be able to truly respect the RCIPS as a whole.
There are far too many examples of incompetence!
Just look at the number of FORMER police officers who have gone to Law School, gotten their degrees and then LEFT the RCIPS to pursue better opportunities…Why isn’t the RCIP doing MORE to entice these officers to STAY in the police and use that knowledge to enhance the RCIP??
As much crime and problems that we have in Cayman I think it crazy that Police would be employed without a basic education. We cannot afford to wait two years for them to go to school to learn to spell and write down statements. We need educated ,honest, caring, strong, and not only salary lookers, but Police who are interested in THIS COUNTRY.