Police officers learn how to handle domestic violence, sex offences

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Jonathan Nicholls is part of a 10-member team of police officers from six Caricom Countries participating in a two week training course in Canada on how to respond to reports of domestic violence and sexual offences.{{more}}

The course is hosted by the Ottawa Police Services Department and includes lawmen from Guyana, Belize, Jamaica, St KItts and Nevis and Antigua.

The seminar is conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Women Caribbean Office, the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police and the Canadian Police Department.

While there, the officers will undergo training in the management of sexual offences and domestic violence which include a focus on sexual and intimate partner assault, legal issues around domestic violence, the judicial response, victim support and domestic violence investigation procedures.

The training represents the second phase of the project, which seeks to address the gaps and strengthen police and prosecutorial management of sexual offences and domestic violence cases.

The first phase of the project saw baseline country reports highlighting the policing and prosecutorial response to gender based violence were completed for each territory and presented to regional police commissioners, directors of public prosecutions and other key stakeholders.

The internship concludes tomorrow, April 22.