Belize: ICITAP-Drafted Policies & Procedures Manual Approved by Police Commissioner

On May 11, Belize’s Commissioner of Police approved the newly created “Belize Police Department Policies & Procedures Manual.” The new policy manual was drafted by members of the Belize Police Department in partnership with ICITAP’s Mission Advisor in Belize. The ICITAP-Belize Mission Advisor, in his role as Strategic Advisor to the Ministry of National Security, wrote a large portion of the sections in the manual, enhanced other sections, and made suggestions for improvement of some of the sections. This is a huge step forward in professionalizing policing in Belize. It is the culmination of over a year’s work of writing new policies and reconciling over 500 pages of obsolete and conflicting orders and memoranda. The last full set of Standing Orders was published in 1992 but had since dissipated into a number of conflicting orders that most members of the department, including top level officials, did not know existed. This project was initiated by the ICITAP-Belize Mission Advisor at the request of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations. One section remains to be completed: The Police Commissioner is having the Ministry of Health review and approve the policy “Dealing with Mentally Challenged Persons.” The Commissioner has instructed his legal team to draft the provisions of the manual as amendments to the regulations that govern the police to be forwarded to the Legislature, which will then incorporate the policies into Belizean law. The Commissioner believes this will enhance adherence to the policies by all police officers and supported by future Commissioners of Police. In Belize, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).