Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee yesterday told Caribbean police commissioners that private businesses must have a place in police reform as they are vital stakeholders but he warned that such partnerships are not without their dangers and challenges.

The minister, who was addressing the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) conference at the Pegasus Hotel, cautioned that partnerships with the private sector if not properly structured can erode the professionalism of police organisations.

“This can come about if private businesses attempt to guide the operations of the police in such a manner that the private businesses alone benefit from the work of the police,” the minister said.

Problems can also develop from the lack of a clear understanding of the role of private businesses in the partnership as there is likely to be conflict between the two and there may also be conflict between private businesses and the political directorate if the modalities of the partnership are not properly designed.

However, the minister noted that the private sector could assist the police in intelligence sharing, adding that the main rationale for the establishment of such partnerships is to support the demand for a better quality of police service.

But he said it is important to acknowledge that there must be a balance between government, private businesses and civil society in such partnerships.

Rohee contended that it is felt by some that the partnerships contribute to the goals of policing in democratic societies by enhancing accountability.

However, he also told the region’s top cops that a number of challenges are facing their forces and these include rising levels of violent crimes, the threat posed by drug trafficking and its linkages to weapon smuggling, money laundering, kidnapping, murders, etc., youth and gang violence and the threat of terrorism.

The policemen and women, the minister said, have to operate in an environment that has problems such as unemployment and underemployment, overcrowded prisons, a lethargic criminal justice system, and such challenges as respect for the rights of citizens and greater media scrutiny.