New recruits knuckle down to business of policing

(CNS): The 13 RCIPS recruits that turned up to start their induction Monday have now been sworn in as police constables and have started their 16 weeks training course ahead of their life on the beat. Their training will see the rookie officers cover a wide range of police work and important elements of the law as well as the RCIPS code of conduct and ethics in law enforcement, the bill of rights, providing an initial response to accidents, victim and witness support.

They will deal with searching individuals, premises, vehicles and open spaces, as well as arresting, detaining or reporting individuals.

Other subjects to be covered include: core criminal law subjects, forensics and crime scenes, managing conflict, conducting investigations, interviewing suspects, victims and witnesses, and First Aid.

Eight of the group already have either an associate’s degree from the University College of the Cayman Islands, are still working towards an associate’s degree, or have spent some time studying at this level. One is in his final year at the Cayman Islands Law School and another is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminology through the University of the West Indies Open Campus.

The trainee constables come from a wide range of different vocational backgrounds, including nursing, insurance, accounting, the hospitality industry and professional sports. A few have already worked for the police as civilian staff, or in the special constabulary.

Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis who headed the committee responsible for the recruitment process said that this is the largest number of successful candidates to be Caymanian or have permanent residency.