On December 16-17, 2020, the Caribbean Anti-Crime program hosted a virtual training program for prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the Eastern Caribbean and Guyana. A total of 99 persons from 7 countries participated in the training including: Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. Participants represented the Director of Public Prosecution offices, Police Forces and Prison Services. The program was designed to enhance attendees’ knowledge of investigation and prosecution of gang related crimes. The workshop is part of a regional initiative and was the first in a series of basic and advanced training programs.
In addition to presentations by highly experienced US gang experts from New York and Chicago, St. Kitts & Nevis Royal Police Force presented best practices in prevention, intervention, and suppression of gang activities. St. Kitts & Nevis is a model for the region with notable and measurable successes. The police worked with high-risk youth and gang members, building partnerships with local organizations and faith-based groups to develop a wholistic, community-based approach to dismantling gangs in St. Kitts & Nevis.
The workshop was conducted in a peer-to-peer learning environment facilitating a transfer of knowledge on effective investigative techniques including technology and social media for detecting crimes, intelligence gathering, evidence analysis, use of informants and concepts of group criminal liability and civil asset forfeiture. Utilizing actual cases, hypothetical scenarios and breakout brainstorming sessions, participants were guided through the application of various investigative tools and prosecutorial strategies.