Police prosecutors, investigators and prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Antigua and Barbuda recently completed an intensive two-day training workshop, aimed at strengthening the administration of justice through more effective Police–DPP collaboration in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
The joint Police-DPP Prosecutor Training Workshop (14 – 15 Sept), was delivered by the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the European Union. The training forms part of a regional programme also delivered in Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia, supporting stronger cooperation between police and prosecutors across participating countries.
PACE Justice consultations across the region revealed that weak coordination between police and prosecutors during early investigations remains a primary driver of case delays across the Caribbean. Without standardized inter-agency procedures, police and prosecutors often face incomplete case files, communication gaps and conflicting views on evidentiary requirements. This frequently results in files being returned to investigators for additional clarification, creating avoidable bottlenecks in the justice system.
The regional programme therefore focused on strengthening practical collaboration between investigators and prosecutors, improving the completeness and quality of case files and promoting common standards and tools that can support the more efficient progression of criminal matters.
PACE Justice Project Lead, Christalle Gemon emphasized the project’s regional commitment to operational reform:
“Strong criminal cases depend not only on the work of individual institutions, but also on how effectively police investigators and prosecutors work together. Bringing them together for this workshop was essential for it to be successful. We had an extremely engaging session where they thoroughly discussed how the practical approaches provided can be adapted to their local context to sustain long-term impact beyond the project.
Through the establishment of standard operating procedures that transform how files are prepared, evaluated, and presented, our goal is to ensure that when a case reaches court, it is complete, contains sound evidence and is ready for swift and efficient prosecution.”
Key facilitators included Paula V. Llewellyn, K.C., former Director of Public Prosecutions of Jamaica, who led modules on early case consultation, “Points to Prove” frameworks, and sufficiency of evidence; and a representative from Europe, who presented European Union best practices in tackling organized crime, financial crimes and inter-agency protocols.
Through blending European legal frameworks with the operational realities of the Caribbean, the approach was designed to connect international good practice with the realities of policing and prosecution in Caribbean justice systems.
Reflecting on the impact of the joint initiative for local law enforcement and the judicial system, Director of Public Prosecutions for Antigua and Barbuda, Clement Joseph, stated: “This training was timely and had a tremendous impact upon both police and prosecutors. One of the impediments of successful prosecutions is the delay in the early intervention by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This training highlighted that gap and we left there with a stronger understanding. We are looking forward to its implementation and success.
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The training concluded with an interactive case study role-play simulating early prosecutor-police consultations on complex cases. Lessons from the regional training will also inform wider PACE Justice work on joint DPP-Police Standard Operating Procedures, a regional training manual and a Training-of-Trainers programme, helping participating institutions carry the learning forward in their individual countries.
Through the initiative, PACE Justice continues to support nationally relevant and regionally connected approaches to strengthening cooperation between police and prosecutors, building institutional capacity and supporting more consistent criminal case preparation.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Police and DPP Join Forces to Improve Criminal Case Preparation in Antigua and Barbuda.