The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday said he advised executive command of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to consider psychological support for police officers.

He added that it was his personal opinion that some kind of therapeutic service should be provided.

Dr Nottage’s comments outside the House of Assembly yesterday follow confirmation from Deputy Commissioner of Police Quinn McCartney that RBPF officers do not receive routine psychological evaluations.

According to Mr McCartney, officers are evaluated upon entry into the force, but do not receive further psychological assessment unless requested because of a complaint or suspicious behaviour.

Mr McCartney said he felt there was always a need for continuous assessment, but noted that there was no formal consideration for such an initiative.

Yesterday Dr Nottage said: “I have no objection to it, I think that there is likely to be a demand for it. It is my personal position that we ought to be providing some kind of psychological support for officers and I know that some of the agencies have in fact contracted services.”

He added: “I have spoken to the heads of the police force, the defence force and the prison, in respect to support for the law enforcement officers having regard to stress they are placed under at times. I have even referred a service to them for the provision of psychological services as required.”

Assault accounted for 53 per cent of grievances put to the RBPF’s Complaints and Corruption Unit (CCU) from the period 2009 to 2013, according to police statistics.

In an interview with The Tribune, psychologist Dr David Allen called for the organisation to sign onto an intervention programme that has yielded transformative results for prisoners, emergency medical responders and the wider community.

Dr Allen said that while he is not sure psychological evaluation is necessary, there has been scientific research to support the impact of group therapy on reducing anger and acts of violence or violent revenge.

The free Family: People Helping People programme is currenty employed at 15 sites throughout New Providence, including the prison, boys and girls industrial schools, the Ranfurly home and in traumatised communities such as Fox Hill, and Bain and Grants Town.

“The police,” said Dr Allen, “are human and are under a lot of pressure just like the people on the street.

He said: “I think the police could also benefit from (the programme) where they can come and share their feelings in confidentiality and debrief.”

As a result of the intervention programme at Her Majesty’s Prison, Dr Allen said prisoners will host an art show at the New Providence Community Centre at the Ladder Gallery on May 21.