School visits part of weekly routine for police officers in St.Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 26, 2016 (RSCNPF):  The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has incorporated school visits by police officers as one of the ways for community engagement in 2016.

Several times weekly, officers from the various stations who are designated as school liaison officers visit the primary and or secondary schools located in the communities they serve. The visits serve as an opportunity to interact with the staff, address any security or safety concerns with regards to ensuring a safe school environment and also provides an enabling opportunity  for the officers to engage and encourage the students to be good citizens.
Police Corporal Paula Jacobs of the St. Paul’s Police Station after a recent visit to her assigned school, the St. Paul’s Primary School said, “I’m pleased to be a part of the school liaison program, it gives me a chance to have an impact on shaping the lives of these young students.  I look forward to the interaction on a weekly basis.”
Expressing support for the school liaison program Ms. Charisse Gumbs,  Principal of the Washington Archibald High School said, “I applaud the initiative.  Having the officers on campus interacting with our students helps to personalize law enforcement, and breaks down the barrier of  ‘us and them’.”  She added, “I look forward to the growth of the program, with the hope that it will yield much positive results by encouraging our students to become better citizens.”
“Initiatives like these must be encouraged and sustained” said the program coordinator, Superintendent Lionel Moore.  He added,  “the program fosters ways for our officers to connect with the communities where they serve, and most importantly, the hope that this police and student interaction will help to mold a generation of law abiding young people in years to come.”  Supt. Moore also noted, “the teachers welcome it and many of the parents are appreciative of  the support and reinforcement the officers provide for the lessons taught to the children at home.”
In addition to the weekly school visits, officers from several Police Stations also spend time volunteering in the various schools. Some officers have volunteered on a regular basis, while others volunteer at a number of school events throughout the year.
Another youth focused initiative supported by the Police Service is the ‘Drum Corps’.
(Press release courtesy of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force)