The 28th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) was hosted by the Bermuda Police Service at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel between 29th April and 2nd May 2013.

The theme of the conference was: “Police and Public Partnerships: Joining up prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies to tackle gangs and youth violence.”

Several international law enforcement agencies and other international organisations were represented at the conference, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executive (NOBLE), INTERPOL, FBI, ATF, UK Serious Organized Crime Agency, RCMP, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and CARICOM. [Click photo to enlarge].

The primary sponsor for the event was Digicel. Other main sponsors included Motorola and Taser International.

The goal of the Annual General Meeting and Conference is to support the mission and objectives of the ACCP by fostering  regional collaboration and co-operation in the development and implementation of policing strategies, systems and procedures; the development of professional and technical skills of police officers and to identify proactive measures to prevent crime and improve police community relations.

Outgoing President of the ACCP, and Commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Ellison Greenslade chaired the conference for his third and final time in that capacity. A new Executive Committee was elected comprised of a new President - Commissioner David Baines of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, 1st Vice President - Commissioner Michael DeSilva of the Bermuda Police Service, 2nd Vice President - Commissioner Owen Ellington of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and Secretary/Treasurer - Commissioner Vernon Francois of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force.

The topics of discussion included community and police anti-gang initiatives, collaborative approaches to criminal investigations, digital solutions for law enforcement, witness protection, intelligence gathering and sharing information throughout the Caribbean region.

The annual ACCP/Motorola Scholarship Programme was also launched at the conference. This year again Motorola will provide ten scholarships valued at USD3,000.00 (each) for children of police officers and police support staff.

The venue for the next Annual General Meeting was selected as Trinidad and Tobago in May 2014.

In the photo: H.E. the Governor George Fergusson, Minister of Public Safety the Hon. Michael Dunkley JP MP and, in alphabetical order of country represented: