The International Policing Assistance Service (IPAS) is currently delivering an eight-week ‘Train-the-Trainer’ course for officers in police forces from Bermuda and the Caribbean Overseas Territories. With Bermuda’s firearms capability already the regional benchmark, Bermuda looks set to become a centre of excellence for Armed Police training within the region.
This first phase of the programme which finishes on 20 June will focus on Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) capabilities, typically used when officers are responding to incidents that are believed to involve firearms or a perceived threat to life. Part of the programme will see the UK Home Office’s Firearms Subject Matter Expert, supported by National Firearms Instructors from Police Scotland and Greater Manchester Police, deliver ARV tactics for dealing with subjects in vehicles, where participants will learn tactics for de-escalating situations, extracting and detaining suspects while maintaining maximum officer safety and control.
A spokesperson from IPAS said “This training marks a significant step in strengthening the armed policing capabilities of the British Overseas Territories. By enhancing the officers’ capabilities based on UK standards and fostering regional cooperation, we’re building a more resilient and interoperable security framework across the Caribbean based British Overseas Territories and Bermuda.”
Developed in consultation with Police Commissioners across the British Overseas Territories and part of a wider effort to standardise firearms training and operational capability across the Territories, the programme will equip officers from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands to deliver future training within their respective forces.
His Excellency Andrew Murdoch, CMG, Governor of Bermuda, met trainers and students at the beginning of their course, and later joined them again during formative ARV practical scenario exercises. He said ‘the provision of armed response vehicles is a critical capability to help ensure the safety and security of Bermuda and other Overseas Territories. It was impressive to watch IPAS officers and regionally based officers in action. The train-the-trainer model being delivered by IPAS, using UK Government funding, ensures that training for this specialist work can in future be delivered locally to deliver a sustainable capability. It helps build safer communities in Bermuda and the Caribbean, including adopting tactics and techniques which take into account local cultures and behaviours.’
Building armed policing capability and strengthening regional security cooperation in the Overseas Territories is a core responsibility of the UK’s Home Office with UK officers regularly deploying in a training capacity as part of a wider and longer-term Overseas Territories Police Strategy. In delivery of this first phase of training, IPAS have worked in close partnership with Commissioner of Police for Bermuda, Darrin Simons and his team.
Commissioner of Police for Bermuda, Darrin Simons said "Bermuda has always been at the forefront of policing excellence among the British Overseas Territories, particularly in firearms and investigations training. This UK-supported initiative keeps our instructors current and competent while establishing common standards that will allow our territories to work seamlessly together. We're building something bigger here. Bermuda as the regional centre of excellence, offering an entire program of training that every British Overseas Territory can access and benefit from."