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Most Special Constables in Barbados have agreed to join the regular police force, according to Attorney General Dale Marshall. He also said that hiring new Special Constables should begin quickly.
n Barbados, a Special Constable is a part-time police officer who supports the regular police force. They are usually hired on a contract basis and have limited powers compared to full-time officers. However, they can carry out many of the same duties, such as:
Assisting with patrols
Helping during public events
Supporting crime prevention work
Backing up regular officers during emergencies
Special Constables are often used to fill staffing gaps and help maintain public safety. They receive training but usually work fewer hours and have lower pay and benefits than regular officers.
Marshall spoke at the start of a two-day conference for The Barbados Police Service (TBPS), held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. The conference theme is: “Pride in Our Legacy, Vision for Tomorrow: 190 Years of Tradition and Transformation.”
He explained that the government recently decided that Special Constables who have worked for more than three years can now join the regular police force. Almost all of them, except one, want to make this change.
Marshall asked the Police Commissioner to recruit 60 new Special Constables as soon as possible. He confirmed that Parliament has already approved the money to pay for these new roles.
He also mentioned that government is reviewing job grades across the public service. This may lead to better pay for police officers.
He added that a new law to help more officers get vehicle loans would soon go to Cabinet, likely within a week, before being presented to Parliament.
Marshall admitted that creating a new rank—Senior Constable—has taken longer than hoped. However, the final paperwork was submitted in March.
He said his office had asked engineers to check the condition of all police stations. That report is now complete, and they can move forward with renovation plans.
There are also talks about building a new station at Six Roads. One department already has new space prepared and will move in soon. The government has also bought the Geddes Grant Building for police use. After demolition, construction on new offices is expected to begin in about two months.
Source: Barbados GIS
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