Royal Bahamas Police Force

Central police station of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in Nassau

From the early eighteenth century to the later part of the nineteenth century, the development of policing generally followed the pattern of policing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. During the first half of this period, men were appointed as constables to assist in the enforcement of government rules and regulations, and the apprehension of offenders. A Night Guard was also assigned to protect the town of Nassau, capital of the British Crown Colony of the Bahamas, during the night. As early as 1729, there was a constable in New Providence. However, his duties seem not to have been as broad and well defined as the police constable of today. This constable was attached to the local Magistrate, Justices of the Peace and several other Government officials.

In 1799, an Act of the General Assembly, now called the Parliament of the Bahamas, declared that all constables would have the same powers as their counterparts in Great Britain. They were then allowed to arrest on suspicion of crime as opposed to only after the crime had been committed. In 1827, the General Assembly stipulated their mode of appointment. During this period, only one constable was appointed to serve at a time in each district. These appointments were made by the serving magistrate with the assistance of two justices of the peace.

As time passed and crime increased, a small number of constables were appointed to serve at the same time. However, they were never organised as a formal police force. Each was responsible to the Magistrate in a particular district. This system of constables has evolved into the currently used district and local constables.

During the early years of British colonial rule, slaves made up the majority of the population in the Bahamas. The little policing needed was done by the free population with the help of Constables, Magistrates, and Justices of the Peace. Any slave rebellion or potential slave rebellion was kept in check by the local detachment of British soldiers and the slave owners.

Prior to the abolition of slavery by Act of the British Parliament in 1834, there was a system of night patrols in New Providence called the Night Guard. The men forming this guard were not constables, but were also supervised by the local Magistrate. Their duties were primarily to protect the homes and businesses of the free population at night. In addition, the West India Regiment was stationed in Nassau to take care of any serious breach of peace throughout The Bahamas. These men were trained soldiers recruited from different ethnic groups in Africa and the Caribbean. They lived in barracks in isolation from the populations to ensure their loyalty in the event of local slave rebellions. In addition, their duties also included the protection of the Islands from foreign invaders. At that time, the barracks was situated on the site where the Hilton British Colonial Hotel currently stands.

The majority of the Family Islands which make up The Bahamas were largely neglected as far as law enforcement was concerned, as crime in these areas was almost non-existent. Please visit http://www.royalbahamaspolice.org to learn more about the Police Force and its development.[1][2]

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is headed by Paul Rolle the Commissioner of Police who is supported in his role by one deputy commissioner four assistant commissioners and one acting assistant commissioner. The headquarters of the police service is located in Nassau, New Providence. The rank structure is similar to that of the United Kingdom's Scotland Yard usage: constable; corporal; sergeant; inspector; assistant superintendent; superintendent; chief superintendent; assistant commissioner; deputy commissioner; and commissioner. There are just over 3,000 members on the force.[3] The Royal Bahamas Police Force is headed by what is known as the 'Senior Executive Leadership Team' or 'SELT'. These officers (ranging from the rank of Assistant Commissioner to Commissioner) are responsible for setting strategic objectives and policies, policing plans, development and mobilization of the force. The Senior Executive Leadership Team consists of one (1) Commissioner, one (1) Deputy Commissioner, five (5) Assistant Commissioners and one (1) Acting Assistant Commissioner. They are

Paul Rolle, Esq, QPM, MS, BS - Commissioner of Police

Ismella Davis-Delancy - Deputy Commissioner of Police

Theophilus Cunningham, MBA, BSc, AA - Assistant Commissioner of Police (Community Policing Services & Reserves)

Ashton Greenslade - Assistant Commissioner of Police (Grand Bahama & Northern Bahamas District inclusive of Abaco and Bimini)

Loretta Mackey, QPM, MSc, B.Ed - Assistant Commissioner of Police (Family Islands District)

Craig Stubbs - Assistant Commissioner of Police (Public Safety & Operational Support)

Solomon Cash, CM - Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Management & Criminal Investigations)

Kirkwood Andrews - Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (Management Services & Public Affairs)

• Royal Bahamas Defence Force
• Government of The Bahamas

• Official website commissioner