149TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEPARTICIPANTS’
PAPERSPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERS

SECURING PROTECTION AND COOPERATION OF WITNESSES AND
WHISTLE-BLOWERS: A BARBADIAN PERSPECTIVE
Roland Cobbler*

I. INTRODUCTION
According to Deosaran (2007) the state of crime, delinquency and justice across the Caribbean has
become increasingly problematic over the last twenty years. He further purports that some of the reasonsfor this phenomenon include technologically driven crimes, ineffective policing, ineffective judicial
institutions, weak law enforcement, and crime and violence driven by drug trafficking. Since crime has thepotential to affect the quality of life in any society, the development of effective mechanisms to combat crime
is one of the most critical issues that many governments are likely to encounter. Although there are various
initiatives which can be developed and implemented by both the government and civil society to address
confronting issues of crime, these initiatives can only be effective if they coincide with an effective criminal
justice system. Similarly, within the criminal justice system it is essential that special attention be placedon the ability of law enforcement officials to make the necessary arrests and the subsequent conviction of
persons involved in criminal activity.
The existence of witnesses is not only important to the police department for solving cases underinvestigation, but it also plays a pivotal role in the justice system in securing successful convictions.
Therefore, the cooperation of a witnesses who can readily identify perpetrators supports the view that
“securing protection and cooperation of witnesses and whistle blowers” is essential for the effective
administration of justice and the maintenance of the rule of law.

II. THE BARBADOS PERSPECTIVE
A. The Need for Witness Protection
In the fight against serious crimes such as gang violence and organized crime, it is essential for thecriminal justice system to be able to provide effective protection for witnesses, informants, and whistleblowers, to protect them against intimidation, attacks and retaliations. Increasingly, many countries
throughout the world are enacting specific legislation or adopting policies to protect witnesses whose
collaboration with law enforcement authorities or testimonies in the law courts would endanger the lives of
their families or themselves.
1. Current Legislation and Measures to Protect Witnesses
Barbados, on the other hand, has not progressed to the stage of standardizing similar strategies. This
existing approach may be based on the fact that there have been no significant reports to indicate thatwitness intimidation actually exists. Additionally, unlike many other territories whose criminal justicesystems are constantly challenged by serious cases of organized crime and terrorism, there is no recorded
crime to signify that this nature of criminality is in existence in Barbados. However, there is a possibility
that some cases of organized crime may exist as individuals have been arrested and charged for offencessuch as money laundering. From a Barbadian perspective, the most serious offences to confront the criminal
justice system which are likely to require a witness protection programme are murder and drug trafficking.
According to the Royal Barbados Police Force Crime Statistical Office, crime in Barbados is classified underfive major categories, namely: Major Crimes Against The Person, which includes offences such as murder,
serious bodily harm, endangering life, kidnapping, robbery and sex-related crimes; Minor Crimes Against
The Person, which include offences such as assaults, wounding and harassment; Major Crimes Against* Sergeant, Community Policing Department, Royal Barbados Police Force.

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.86

Property, which include burglaries, arson/attempted arson and criminal damage; Minor Crimes Against
Property, which include theft, fraud and other theft-related crimes, and finally, Other Crimes, which include
drugs crimes, firearm crimes, public order breaches, and escaping lawful custody (See Appendix A).
Although Barbados does not have a standardized witness protection programme integrated into its
criminal justice system, the implementation of such a programme has been identified as being essential in
the fight against serious crimes. The increasing importance of the implementation of such a programmeis primarily based on the fact that over the years a number of the homicides occurring in the country areclosely linked to drug affiliation. The necessity of the implementation of a witness protection programmeis generally advanced by the fact that one of the characteristics of criminal organizations includes theintimidation of informants and potential witnesses. According to the Barbados Advocate (2008) in a
newspaper article entitled “New Laws coming”, the honourable Prime Minister of Barbados, Mr. Freundel
Stuart, who was then the Attorney General and acting Prime Minister, stated that the Government waspromising the introduction of new laws to deal firmly with thugs who threaten court witnesses with personalliquidation. He further suggested that while he had no evidence of witness intimidation locally, discussion
with regional counterparts currently grappling with that problem, had convinced him it could be a major
threat “sooner rather than later”.
The necessity of witness protection on the island can be further advanced based on the fact that
presently, during the course of police investigations, witnesses are normally asked to identify a perpetrator
in a criminal matter from a face-to-face line-up. This form of identification can result in witnesses developing
a sense of fear or insecurity.
In a recent High Court case in Barbados, the sitting Judge and a senior prosecutor openly criticized therecent trend of eyewitnesses changing their testimonies at the High Court after giving detailed statements
to the police and at the Magistrates Court. These comments came as a result of the prosecution having todiscontinue a murder case against one man because eyewitnesses either said they had lied at the Magistrate
Court or that police and even the Magistrate had threatened them into testifying. One witness even skipped
the island during the trial. The judge in his summation noted that there was a trend “where young persons
in serious matters have been cut down like fowls for absolutely no reason at all and where young persons,young men in particular, see what was going on; (they) watched their peers being executed and gave
statements to police indicating what they had seen and then go to the Magistrates’ court and say something
different and then come to the High Court and say something completely different.” The judge further
suggested that he was worried about this trend which, according to him, was undermining our court systemand threatening the very fabric of our society. The overarching factor being that after witnessing theirfriends murdered on the street in execution-style killings, witnesses don’t want to testify to the point thatthey are changing their stories or running off the island.

B. Effective Legislation and Measures
1. Current Local Legislative Measures(i) Criminalization and Punishment
Despite the fact that Barbados does not have a standardized witness protection programme, effective
legislation and measures do exist to ensure that some level of protection is available for witnesses tosafeguard the criminal justice system from destabilization. Currently, the Transnational Organized Crime(Prevention and Control) Act 2011-3, which was passed in the House of Parliament on 7 February 2011,
mirrors the philosophy of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)
to which Barbados is a signatory, and provides some degree of satisfaction in deterring witness interference.
According to Section (6), subsections (1) and (2) of the Act, a person who, in relation to a witness or justicesystem participant involved in criminal proceedings to which the Act applies:•••

uses or threatens to use physical force;
intimidates; orpromises or offers a financial or other material benefit,(...), resulting in interference with the judicial process, especially in the case of witnesses, is guilty of the58

149TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERS

offence of Obstruction of Justice, if the individual’s actions subsequently:• induce false testimony;• interfere with the giving of testimony; or• interfere with the production of evidence.
Similarly, this Act is supported by common law legislation where persons whose actions are considered
likely to pervert the course of justice, are normally arrested and charged for their behaviour.
2. Current Local Regulatory Measures
Additionally, other available measures to provide witnesses/victims with assistance and support are
facilitated by the Royal Barbados Police Force as outlined in the General Standing Orders (GSO) of theorganization. These standing orders stipulate written guidelines for members of the police force on thepolicy and procedures regarding the rights of victims and witnesses involved in criminal matters, andprovides further details on the assistance and services available to them. It is the policy of the organizationthat the safety and welfare of all victims and witnesses to a crime in Barbados are of the highest concern.
Such individuals are to be treated with fairness, compassion and dignity at all times, and their rights under
the law and fundamental human rights must be preserved and administered with equity. Prompt beneficial
assistance to witnesses/victims is a commitment the police force undertakes. Section 179 of the GSO’s
clearly states that a witness protection scheme shall be designed to increase successful prosecution throughthe protection of witnesses and their families. Such a scheme shall be utilized by the police when:• A witness or family member has been threatened;• An actual threat to the safety of a witness or a family member exists.
However, each case is evaluated on its own merit based upon the imminence of the threat or the
potential violence. The protection may be a minimal, (periodic patrolling and security check of the citizen’s
residence), or in more serious matters, placing the citizen in protective custody. It is the responsibility ofeach member of the force to ensure that this order is followed and that the intent and spirit of the order isprovided to the public. Nevertheless, organizational responsibility to facilitate victim/witness programmes
is the obligation of the force’s Community Relations Department. This department seeks to ensure that therequisite assistance is available for victims/witnesses and provides:• Referrals to other sources of help, including domestic abuse programmes, social service agencies,
support groups, etc.;• Information on how the criminal justice system operates;• Support for appearance in court in terms of providing someone to accompany witness/victim tocourt;• Assistance with safety concerns.
3. Regional Cooperation
Another promising approach to witness protection to which Barbados is likely to be a beneficiary is thesigning of an agreement in 1999 by several sovereign states in the region to establish the Regional JusticeProtection Programme. The heads of states in recognizing the need to uphold the integrity of the justicesystem of member states of the Caribbean Community (thereinafter referred to as “the community”), andthe need to prevent any interference in the administration of justice by the intimidation or elimination of
witnesses, jurors, judicial and legal officers, and law enforcement personnel and their associates, wereconvinced that a cooperative approach by the Caribbean community was the most effective way to confront
and overcome any potential threat to the criminal justice system. Additionally, heads of the member
states were also conscious of the need to establish, develop and maintain an appropriate and effective
infrastructure at the national and regional levels in order to safeguard and enhance the credibility andintegrity of the justice systems. The signatories to the agreement agreed on 23 stipulations which are listed
as Article 1 to Article 23. However, this paper seeks to highlight those conditions which speak specificallyto the practical aspects of witness protection. Article 3 of the agreement highlights those Persons who are
eligible to participate in the programme and states that:• Participation in the Regional Programme shall be open to member states of the community; or• Any other territory which, in the opinion of the conference is willing and able to enjoy the rights andassume the obligations established by the agreement.

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.86

The objectives of the programme is clearly outlined in Article 4 which states that the objectives of theRegional Programme shall be to promote and ensure the proper administration of justice by providing
participants with such protection, assistance and security as would enable them to perform their functions
with efficiency and confidence when there is a threat to their lives, safety, or property, arising from, or
directly or indirectly related to the performance of, their duties or obligation in the administration of justice.
The functions of the Agency providing witness protection are expounded in Article 10. According to theagreement, the agency providing protection and assistance shall:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Conduct interviews with prospective participants to establish suitability for entry into the national
programme;
Examine the threats and risk assessments submitted by the investigative agency;
Require a prospective participant or a participant, as the case may be, to undergo such medical tests andexaminations, and psychological and psychiatric evaluations as would determine his or her physical andmental health;Submit a report to the Administrative Centre on the matters relating to the participant’s physical andmental health;Protect participants approved by the Administrative centre and those accorded provisional entry into
the programme on an emergency basis;
Organize relocation, if necessary, of a participant approved on an emergency basis;
Review threat and risk assessments throughout the relevant proceedings, including any appeal process
and where appropriate after such proceedings;
The scope of protection under the National Programme is illustrated in Article 12 and suggests that:• States Parties shall take such measures as are necessary and reasonable to protect the safety, healthand welfare of participants in national programmes. Such measures may include, where necessary:• Providing accommodation;• Defraying relocation expenses;• Providing living expenses;• Establishing new identities;• Providing assistance in rehabilitation.
Article 13 summarizes the procedure for registration of participants and suggests that:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

States Parties establish and maintain a register of participants in national programmes. These Registers
may be in electronic form should include information which must be accorded a security classification
not below “Top Secret”. This information must include:
Names and addresses of participants;
Assumed names, if any;
New identities, where appropriate;
Details of convictions, if any;
Case references;
Date of commencement of participation in the programme and date of termination.

States Parties shall determine the conditions under which access to the register may be accorded to an
approved authority. The register shall be kept at the Administrative Centre which shall be responsible for its
safe custody.
The relocation of participants is facilitated in the programme based on the terms highlighted in Article
14. The conditions outlined in this article state that:
•
•
•

60

States Parties shall cooperate with the Board and each other in the relocation of participants undernational programmes;
A determination to relocate a participant in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which theparticipant ordinarily resides shall be made by the Administrative Centres of the sending State Party
and the receiving State Party;
Prior to the relocation of a participant in a different jurisdiction, the sending State Party and the149TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERS

receiving State Party shall establish an arrangement determining the rights and obligations of therespective States Parties and the participants being relocated.
Article 15 highlights Legislative and other measures and encourages States Parties to undertake and to
adopt legislative and other measures necessary to discharge their obligation under the agreement, thereby
to:•Facilitate in their jurisdiction, the incarceration of persons convicted of offences against the laws of thesending State Party;• Provide protective custody for participants in national programmes;• Protect identities;• Establish offences and sanctions for:• Unauthorized disclosure of information, corruption and unethical practices;• Unlawfully interfering with a participant.
• Provide for the liability of a State Party and its representatives resulting from acts or omissions
causing injury to participants.
4. International Cooperation
The Regional Justice Protection Programme is further supported by a formal framework for mutual
assistance and international cooperation which was established and referred to as the Bridgetown Accord“on partnership for prosperity and security”. This Accord was ratified in Barbados in 1997 through amutually structured US-Caribbean summit between the then US President Mr. Bill Clinton and the
Caribbean Heads of State, Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and the Dominican
Republic. Subsequently an informal meeting was held in Barbados in 2010, between the US Secretary ofState Mrs. Hillary Clinton and the foreign Ministers of Caricom and the Dominican Republic, with the
exception of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. This meeting was used to officially launch and reaffirm thecommitments made at Caribbean-US Dialogue on Security Co-operation. Noteworthy is the fact that thispartnership for prosperity and security as outlined in the Bridgetown Accord includes:• An Arms Trafficking Control Regime for the Caribbean; which focuses on money laundering, illicit
drugs reduction, education, rehabilitation and eradication;• Criminal Justice Protection Programme (including personal security of witnesses, jurors, judicial andlaw enforcement personnel) in cases of murder related to drug trafficking, gun running and humantrafficking);• Strengthening of Regional Security Forces; by combined and co-operative interdiction efforts, and thecollection, analysing and sharing of information.
5. Other Measures
Another important aspect of the criminal justice system in Barbados is the fact that provisions are madefor criminal procedural protection. The supreme courts have been designed with the necessary technology
to facilitate the process whereby witnesses can testify and give evidence by means of closed circuit
television, whether in Barbados or outside of the country. However, to date the necessity to test this modern
technology has not been required. In addition to the protection available to witnesses through the earlier
mentioned legislation and policies, the existing legal framework of the country enhances and supports thelevel of protection available to witnesses. Such protection can be facilitated through the Sexual Offences Act
Chapter 154, the Evidence Act Chapter 121, and the Bail Act Chapter 122.
Section 106, subsection (1) of the Evidence Act regulates aspects of disclosure as it relates to confidential
communication and documents. Under this section, where on the application of a person who is aninterested person in relation to a confidential communication or a confidential document, the court finds that,
if evidence of the communication or document were presented in the proceedings, the likelihood of:• Harm to an interested person;• Harm to the relationship in the course of which the confidential communication was made or theconfidential documents prepared;• Harm to the relationship of the kind concerned;
together with the extent of the harm, overweighs the desirability of admitting the evidence, the court

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may direct that the evidence not be presented. Likewise, section 109 of the same act implies that where thepublic interest in admitting evidence that relates to matters of state is outweighed by the public interest inpreserving secrecy or confidentiality in relation to the evidence, the court may, either of its own motion or
on the application of any other person, direct that the evidence not be presented. For the purpose of thissection, evidence that relates to matters of the state includes evidence which, if presented,:• Would disclose, or enable a person to ascertain, the existence or identity of a confidential source of
information in relation to the enforcement or administration of a law;
• Would tend to prejudice the proper functioning of government.
The Bail Act can also be identified as a significant legislation to assist in aspects of witness protection.
Under section 5 of the act, where a defendant is accused or convicted of an offence that is punishable withimprisonment, the court may refuse an application for bail if the court is satisfied that there are substantial
grounds for believing that the defendant, if released on bail, whether subject to conditions or not:• Would interfere with witnesses;• Commit an offence; or• Fail to surrender to custody.
Under this act, a defendant can also be kept in custody once the court is satisfied that he or she should be
kept in custody:• For his or her own protection;• For protection of the community; or• If he or she is a child or young person, for his or her own welfare.
Additionally, under section 30 of the Sexual Offences Act, where the accused is on trial on indictment
for an offence under the act, and the complainant is a minor, the court shall hear the evidence of theminor in camera. Similarly, where the accused is on trial on indictment for an offence under the Act, andthe complainant is of full age, the court may give leave for the evidence of the complainant to be heard incamera. Under section 35 of the Act, after a person is accused of an offence under this Act, no matter likely
to lead members of the public to identify a person as the complainant in relation to that accusation shalleither be published in Barbados in a written publication available to the public or be broadcast in Barbados
except, where on the application of the complainant or the accused, the court directs that the effects of therestriction is to impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the reporting of proceedings and that it
is in the public interest to remove the restriction in respect of the applicant.
The prevalence of witness interference is difficult to quantify for various reasons, such as unreported
crime. However, the fact that it does exist has become more obvious with the changing nature of crime.
The importance of enacting legislations to counteract incidents of witness intimidation can never beoveremphasized, since witnesses play a crucial role in the administration of justice. Although there are no
significant reports to indicate that witness intimidation is a major problem in Barbados, there have been a
few instances where individuals were engaged in activities which were considered to be intimidating.

C. Criminalization and Punishment of Obstruction of JusticeThe necessity of the criminalization and subsequent punishment of persons who seek to obstruct thecourse of justice is critical in protecting the integrity of the administration of justice. The obstruction ofjustice is becoming prevalent in Barbados. The manifestation of this crime in Barbados is usually in the formof witness intimidation, and has the potential to damage the democratic functioning of our society. Allegedinterference in the judicial process is usually reported in the newspapers. One case in point was highlighted
in a local newspaper, the Daily Nation (2011), where the girlfriend of a convicted manslayer was remanded
overnight pending trial on charges of perverting the course of justice and harassing a juror who served inher boyfriend’s case. The circumstances of the case were based on the fact that the accused uttered words
and gestures intended to cause intimidation or fear of retaliation, in the presence of a juror, for the verdict
delivered in her boyfriend’s case. The criminalization and punishment of persons who engage in witness
intimidation have been utilized worldwide as a specific response to reduce these occurrences. In Barbados,
criminalization and punishment for witness interference can be initiated by the Transnational Organized
Crime (Prevention and Control) Act 2011-3. Based on this Act, if a person is convicted of the offence ofobstruction of justice under section (6), that individual is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of62

149TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERS$500,0000, or to imprisonment for 10 years, or both. Likewise, punishment can also be initiated under thecommon law offence of perverting the course of justice. In addition, under the existing laws of Barbados, thePublic Order Act enacted in 1993 criminalizes and punishes the use of threats. According to section 27 of theAct, a person is guilty of an offence if he or she:
• Uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; or• Distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible representation that isthreatening, abusive or insulting.
According to the Act, an individual is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to
imprisonment for a term of two years or to a fine of $500.00 or both, if:• With intent to cause another person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against
him or her or any other person by any person; or• With intent that another person is likely to believe that unlawful violence will be used or it is likelythat such violence will be provoked.
Punishment for committing comparable offences against judges, prosecutors and law enforcement
officials are normally initiated under the same legislation.

D. Mitigation of Punishment and/or Immunity Grants for Persons who provide Substantial
Cooperation in an Investigation or Prosecution
1. Shortcomings
The securing of witnesses and their cooperation in criminal proceedings is also critical to the successful
administration of justice. Universally, various countries worldwide in an effort to facilitate the processof securing witnesses and their cooperation, have adopted several techniques such as the utilization ofplea bargaining, witness immunity, protection for whistle-blowers and developing criminal informants.
However, in Barbados the mitigation of punishment and/or immunity grants for persons who provide
substantial cooperation in an investigation or prosecution, plea bargaining, and protection for whistleblowers are all measures which are not available to criminal justice practitioners. However, this practice
may become necessary in the future as the country becomes more developed. Nevertheless, the primarymethod of securing witnesses and their cooperation is a role specifically performed by the police throughthe development of informants. For the police to be successful in investigating criminal activities, the useof informants is of uttermost importance. Therefore, in recognizing the significant role informants play toassist in police investigations, specific procedures were established under the General Standing Orders(GSO) of the Police Force, to guide the relationship between the department and informants. Under section
182 of the GSO, the procedures to be followed to ensure protection of the police department and informantsare:• An informant master file shall be kept under the strict control of each Detective Divisional Inspector
at the divisional level, and a copy kept under strict control of the Officer in charge of Criminal
Investigation Department (C.I.D.), Headquarters. All information at the Divisional level shall be relayed
to the officer in charge of C.I.D.;• The file shall contain background information on all informants and a record of each transaction;• The Detective Divisional Inspector and Officer in charge of C.I.D. shall personally maintain this filewhich shall be confidential;• The file shall be locked away at all times and each transaction with the informant be given a code.
To protect the identity of informants, section 183 of the GSO further suggests that the following shall beused:• Accept the information on the terms of the informants;• The name of the informant shall not be used in reports;• Arrange how and where the informant can be located, other than the individual coming to the office;• Meet the informant where the contact will not be evident;• Informant will not be called upon to testify in court;• The investigator’s organization shall not be identified in any correspondence with the informant;• The proper name of the informant shall not be used on the telephone, only the designated code.
Section 201 of the GSO also makes provision for the funding of confidential informants, and states that63

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.86

there shall be times in certain major cases that paying any informant for intelligence will be required. This
procedure shall be followed in instances where:• The commander of the Criminal Investigation Unit (C.U.I.) shall be advised of the case circumstancesand evaluate its merit for approval or disapproval;• If the request is given preliminary approval, the commander of the C.U.I. shall, in writing, develop aformal request outlining the nature of the case, its total circumstances, the amount of the request andjustification for the request;• This letter shall be transmitted in a sealed secure envelope to the Assistant Commissioner in charge ofthe division;• The assistant Commissioner of Police shall review the request for his approval;• He shall then submit in writing, a formal request for informant funds to the Commissioner of Police;• Upon review the Commissioner may or may not approve the request. If approved, the Commissioner
shall provide the funds to the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the division who shall sign a receipt
documenting the transaction.
Additionally, there are citizens at various levels in the society who willingly pass on sensitive information
if an atmosphere conducive to this activity is created. In this regard, securing witnesses and witness
cooperation is a natural extension of the Police Force’s community policing trust.

III. CONCLUSION
Barbados, like many other territories worldwide, shares similar concerns about the evolution oforganized crime and its affiliated attributes. However, despite the efforts in the fight against crime, several
challenges do exist which impede the process of an efficient criminal justice system. The greatest weaknessof our criminal justice system is that it has become overwhelmed with cases for trial and does not function
in a fluent fashion, resulting in prompt determination of the guilt or innocence of those charged with acriminal matter. One significant reason for this weakness is the fact that many prosecution witnesses retractstatements made earlier to the police and in some cases become hostile witnesses in the courts. Witnesses
turn hostile with predictable regularity in cases involving heinous crimes or high profile personalities due
to external pressure, thereby leading to failures in the criminal justice system. Other challenges include
the fact that there are several individuals who in some cases are willing to provide the police with thenecessary information to solve criminal matters, but are reluctant to give written statements or testify inthe law courts. Additionally, there are some instances were persons may willingly give written statements
and testify in the law courts. However, during trial, individuals have been known to digress from what
they said initially in their statement. This lack of cooperation may sometimes be intensified dependingon the community in which the particular individual resides. Such reluctance may also be as a result ofa perceived notion or actual threat of retaliation by the offender or his cohorts, or simply be as a resultof more generalized community norms and attitudes that discourage cooperation with law enforcement
officials. Furthermore, in some communities, close ties between witnesses, offenders, and their families
may deter witnesses from cooperating with the police. Witnesses today are being increasingly harassed,
bribed, threatened, abducted and even killed. As a result, many persons are reluctant to become witnesses incriminal proceedings.
Suggestions to overcome the mentioned challenges may include, firstly, increasing the appointment ofJudges and Magistrates with the intention of speeding up the country’s backlogged court system. Secondly,
specialized training can be provided for personnel to assist in the enhancement of their knowledge, skills
and techniques in questioning hostile witnesses. Additionally, communities which hold anti-policing attitudes
and norms should be increasingly targeted with intensified community oriented policing initiatives so that
residents can develop trust to cooperate with the police by providing information and assistance to achieve
the desired goals. Finally a standardized witness protection programme and legislation can be incorporated
into the criminal justice system and the relevant information provided to heighten the awareness of citizens
that protection is available for persons who are willing to cooperate in criminal proceedings. The successesof these strategies are likely to increase the possibility of conviction for those persons who would otherwise
evade the law, and facilitate the coming forward of more persons would be willing to give evidence.

64

149TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERSREFERENCES
Deosaran, R. (2007). Crime, delinquency and justice. A Caribbean reader. Jamaica: Ian Randle Publisher.
New Laws Coming. March 2008: The Barbados Advocate
Court Cry. February 2009: The Nation Newspaper

APPENDIX A
Royal Barbados Police Force Crime Statistical Report on the comparison of crime January to December
2006-2010.
JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2006 - 2010
BREAKDOWN OF SPECIFIC CRIMES

1
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J

MAJOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON
MurderAttempted Murder
Manslaughter
Serious Bodily Harm
Endangering Life
Kidnapping
Robbery
Assault With Intent to Rob
Aggravated Burglary
Other Major Crimes Against the Person
SUB TOTAL

2006
35
0
2
243
33
14
367
10
79
7
790

2007
25
1
3
177
48
17
392
22
112
11
808

YEARS
2008
23
0
1
211
36
12
394
36
103
3
819

2009
19
0
2
200
29
18
383
28
77
9
764

2010
31
0
2
235
37
12
487
42
70
7
923

2009
103
153
9
1532
30
2765

2010
118
147
15
1505
21
2898

2009
1375
414
19
23
19
1
490
0
2341

2010
1580
321
18
19
22
0
512
0
2472

Table 1. Major Crimes against the Person

2
A
B
C
D
E

MAJOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON
Fear of Violence
Threats
Harassment
Assaults/Wounding (Minor)
Other Crimes Against the Person
SUB TOTAL

2006
109
174
16
1627
31
2947

2007
79
143
9
1462
24
2725

YEARS
2008
71
137
12
1503
23
2736

Table 2. Minor Crimes against the Person

3
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

MAJOR CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY
Residential Burglary
Commerical Burglary
Other Burglary
Sacrilege
Arson
Attempted Arson
Criminal Damage
Other Crimes (Attempts)
SUB TOTAL

2006
1383
451
12
18
23
1
572
5
2465

2007
1178
394
22
20
11
1
524
0
2150

YEARS
2008
1389
470
30
23
13
2
467
1
2395

Table 3. Major Crimes against Property

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.86

4
A
B
C
D
E
F

SEX RELATED CRIMES
Rape
Assault With Intent to Rape
Sex with Minor
Indecent Assault
Serious Indecency
Other Sex Crimes
SUB TOTAL

2006
75
2
31
65
16
11
200

YEARS
2008
62
5
30
50
12
12
171

2007
72
7
40
58
17
6
200

2009
68
4
28
46
18
10
174

2010
63
1
21
59
15
10
169

Table 4. Sex-Related Crimes
YEARS
5
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O

THEFTS AND RELATEDCRIMES
Theft of Livestock
Theft of Agricultural Produce
Theft of Postal Packet
Theft of Use
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Theft from the Motor Vehicle
Theft of Bicycle
Theft from Person
Theft from Shops and Stores
Other Thefts
Handling Stolen Property
Unlawful Possession
Going Equipped
Fraud Related Crimes
Attempts
SUBTOTAL

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

16
40
0
14
115
351
82
233
251
954
28
3
11
124
1
2223

11
22
0
14
97
383
63
286
206
892
52
2
11
95
0
2134

13
49
0
9
77
273
70
206
219
1120
43
0
11
209
0
2299

21
34
0
12
92
376
56
205
164
1099
26
1
8
118
0
2212

29
39
0
10
113
289
57
342
188
972
33
1
20
149
2
2224

2007
991
63
23
0
827
1904

YEARS
2008
949
100
20
0
483
1552

2009
830
86
16
1
535
1468

2010
830
78
14
1
457
1380

2007
2725
4282
1904
8913

YEARS
2008
2736
4694
1552
8982

2009
2765
4553
1468
8786

2010
2898
4716
1380
8994

Table 5. Thefts and Related Crimes

6
A
B
C
D
E

OTHER CRIMESDrug Crimes
Firearm Crimes
Escaping
Explosives
Public Order Breaches/Other Summary Crimes
SUB TOTAL

2006
919
118
19
0
546
1602

Table 6. Other Crimes

SUMMARY OF CRIMESTOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONTOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTYTOTAL OTHER CRIMESGRAND TOTAL OF ALL CRIMES

2006
2947
4688
1602
9237

Table 7. Summary of the Categories of Crime

66