Police Comissioner promises new community policing plan

Roseau, Dominica – September 27, 2007……… In its continuing thrust to develop a style of policing that is more responsive to the needs of the community, Dominica’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Matthias Lestrade says the Police Force is in full support of the new Community Policing Plan which he claims will bring about much needed changes in the way the Police conduct business not just at Police Headquarters in Roseau but in the districts throughout the country.

The Commissioner made the remark in an address to mark the occasion of the official opening of Police Week 2007 last week at Police Headquarters.

Mr Lestrade enunciated the commitment of the Dominica Police Force “to the philosophy of community policing in its totality” and signalled the intention of the Force to implement a strategy in partnership with the Dominican community to deliver enhanced policing services to all.

The adoption of the Community Policing Plan was one of the recommendations coming out the Crime Symposium in 2003 spearheaded by Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, who was then Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and is now the Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for national security.

The National Symposium on Crime recommended the commencement of the implementation of the plan by December 2007. To this end, the Commissioner told the opening ceremony that at least eight district orientation workshops on the implementation have been planned in collaboration with the Department of Community Development under the leadership of Local Government Commissioner, Mr. John Fontaine.

The Commissioner of Police added that the Government of Dominica had already reviewed the plan and “is awaiting proposals from the Force which will be submitted shortly for the total financing of the implementation process”.

“I need to assure you that I am very confident that we are solidly on the road to building that much-needed partnership between the Police and the Community which we serve,” Commissioner Lestrade stated.

The opening ceremony for Police Week 2007 was attended by the Acting President of Dominica, His Excellency, Dr. Edward Watty, Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Matthew Walter, members of the diplomatic corps, Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. Felix Gregoire, senior officials from the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, retired officers among other public and private sector invited guests.

The theme for Police Week 2007 was Fostering Peace Trough Partnership.