Forbes still in charge - Gets third term as boss of regional Commissioners' body
published: Thursday | May 27, 2004

By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S POLICE Commissioner, Francis Forbes, for the third consecutive year, was re-elected president of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), at the 19th annual conference which concluded Monday in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 52-year-old Forbes who has been Commissioner of Police for the past eight years, was returned unopposed.

The focus of this year's conference was on youth crime, drug abuse, violence and delinquency. Commissioner Forbes told the conference that the phenomenon of youth crime and violence had serious implications, not only for today's societies, but for future generations.

SCHOOL-RELATED VIOLENCE

He stressed that school-related violence was, in particular, "a very troubling development in the region."

"It is not unusual to learn of student assault on teachers, teacher assault on students, parent assault on teachers and student assault on students. In many cases these assaults have resulted in serious injuries and even death," Commissioner Forbes said.

In an attempt to address youth violence, the ACCP will provide forums to focus attention on the strategies to address the matter. There will be an examination of the factors and circumstances which contribute to the problem of youth deviance, and the effectiveness of policies and programmes adopted to address the circumstances and conditions of young people at risk.

The ACCP has proposed to assist authorities in the region in identifying, developing and adopting innovative approaches to the problems facing young people. To this end, there will be a move toward educating law enforcement officers, and corporate and service organisations officials about the role they can play in youth development, crime prevention and community relations.

OTHER ISSUES TO BE EXAMINED

The regional officers will look at a number of other issues affecting youth, such as the impact of domestic violence on young people, the root cause of deviant behaviour, the role of the correctional system ­ punishment versus rehabilitation, the role of the family and support systems. The critical role of the state and the police will also be examined.