The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Royal Police Force ofAntigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) – launched an automated Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS) yesterday.
According to a release, the PRMIS will transition police stations from paper-based reporting to a digital format. The launch marked the official handover of computer hardware and software to the RPFAB to support the implementation of key activities under USAID’s CariSECURE Project.
Antigua and Barbuda is the fifth country in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean to launch the system which is being piloted at the Dockyard and St. John’s police stations.
The newly launched police report application will allow officers from the pilot stations to capture real-time data on incidents reported – a stepping stone to more standardized, accurate crime data and evidence-based decision-making to reduce crime and violence.
“Police will also gain vital ‘intelligence’ on crime hot spots, as well as ‘persons of interest,’ including their traits and crime footprint. Shortly, citizens can expect improved efficiency as the system eliminates the need for multiple crime incidence reports. Victims/witnesses will have the capacity to provide more detailed accounts to support investigators with closing cases quickly and efficiently. The system will also allow other agencies in the justice system to share crime data among themselves by opening communication channels,” the release said.
“A training exercise will follow the PRMIS launch where officers from the pilot stations and other critical RPF units are expected to benefit from hands-on familiarization with the new application, a crucial element to a successful pilot. Following the pilot, the intent is for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to expand the PRMIS in the near future across all police stations. Once Antigua and Barbuda is fully using the digital system, better targeting of hot-spots and complete country profiles can be rapidly created to inform police responses. The information can also be shared across the region to address trans-national crime and allow for broad learning and sharing of best practices.”
CariSECURE, a component of USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Project, aims to build the region’s capacity to effectively address youth crime and violence, through the use of reliable national citizen security information. It represents a partnership between USAID and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), made possible by the support of the American People. The project is being implemented in nine Caribbean countries.