NCJ Number
63223
Date Published
1978
Length
48 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT EXAMINES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZATION, AND PROBLEMS OF THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE FOR THE YEAR 1978.
Abstract
DETAILS ARE PROVIDED ON THE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, RECRUITING AND TRAINING, CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, THE TRAFFIC BRANCH, OTHER BRANCHES, WELFARE AND RECREATION, AND OTHER POLICE DUTIES SUCH AS THE PROVOST MARSHALL, LICENCING AND GUARDS. SOME OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS WERE (1) SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPING THE POLICE COVERAGE AND PROTECTION FUNCTIONS; (2) SALARY INCREASES RANGED FROM 7 1/2 PERCENT FOR THE HIGHER RANKS TO 15 PERCENT FOR THE LOWER RANKS; (3) MAJOR OFFENSES INCREASED MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OVER 1977 TO 11,705 REPORTED OFFENSES; (4) OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON INCREASED BY ALMOST 16 PERCENT AND WERE CHARACTERIZED BY AN INCREASING USE OF FIREARMS; (5) JUVENILES WERE CHARGED IN 15 PERCENT OF THE CASES OF SERIOUS WOUNDING (6 PERCENT IN 1977) AND IN 30 PERCENT OF THE ROBBERY CASES (27 PERCENT IN 1977); (6) IN NEW PROVIDENCE THERE WAS A MARKED DECREASE IN RAPE, BUT IT IS WAS PARTLY OFFSET BY A TREBLING OF RAPE CASES IN GRAND BAHAMA; (7) THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY IN 1978; (8) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DRUGS SEIZED BY THE POLICE IN CASES IN WHICH PERSONS WERE CHARGED WAS MUCH GREATER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS; AND (9) OVER 28 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OFFENSES REPORTED TO THE POLICE IN 1978 WERE CLEARED UP. EIGHTEEN APPENDIXES PRESENT STATISTICAL TABLES.