WILLEMSTAD - To help raise security, order, and tranquility in neighborhoods, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Shalten Hato, together with the Police Force, will focus more on the neighborhood policing project. Recently, the Council of Ministers approved the proposition of the project titled "Bario" in which the concept of Community Policing will be approached in a comprehensive and more effective manner. The Police Force has the task of providing comprehensive security, which includes preventing crime and addressing those who, in one way or another, violate the law and the rights of others.
The Curaçao Police Force introduced "Community Police Officers" (buurtregisseurs) in 2017. Community Police Officers play a central role in crime prevention and addressing insecurity in Curaçao's neighborhoods. Their main task is to identify all social issues and infrastructural deficiencies in the neighborhoods and, together with other organizations, work on sustainable solutions to prevent situations of insecurity and crime in the community.
The Community Police Officers are those who are primarily in direct contact with the residents and social organizations of the neighborhood, those who experience the problems in the community. The Community Police Officers, together with neighborhood organizations and residents, work collaboratively with other government services, such as the Ministry of Social Development and Labor, Domain Management, Public Works, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, to develop projects and practical solutions to change situations of insecurity and danger in the neighborhood. The role of the Community Police Officers is to bring all parties together and materialize projects to achieve solutions.
New Approach
The "Bario" plan, in the first place, ensures that Community Police Officers have the necessary resources to make their work more effective, especially to communicate better with residents in the different neighborhoods.
It will also ensure that Community Police Officers receive advanced guidance and training so they can achieve lasting solutions in the neighborhoods. Among other things, Community Police Officers will have the opportunity to gain better insights into how certain neighborhoods develop solutions, such as Montaña, Otrobanda, and learn from experiences like Comuna 13 in Medellin.
The areas (zones) will be redefined so that the Community Police Officers can periodically focus on the most manageable areas to achieve better results.
There will be a more effective approach with the Community Police Team to assist them in acting more diligently when Community Police Officers signal that there are issues requiring police attention to prevent escalation.
Among the specific activities and projects in the neighborhood, at least once a year, a "Safety Market" will be organized, where residents can learn about precautionary measures they can take for their own safety and property. It will also raise awareness among residents about their role in identifying and communicating situations that may lead to insecurity.
Protocols for cooperation with different ministries will be established to ensure joint efforts and coordination of projects that contribute to security solutions in the neighborhoods.