The Commissioner of Police has been appointed the new head of an organisation of top Caribbean police officers.

Darrin Simons was elected president of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police for the 2025-26 term at a meeting last month.

According to a police spokesman, Mr Simons will oversee “a suite of key initiatives aimed at improving law enforcement co-ordination, officer wellbeing and public trust”.

Mr Simons said today: “Bermuda stands to benefit significantly from the broader mission of the ACCP.

“The organisation fosters collaboration and co-operation in the development and implementation of policing strategies, systems and procedures that are responsive to shared regional challenges.

“It also promotes the professional and technical skills development of police officers, encourages proactive measures to prevent crime and strengthens police-community relations, ensuring that Bermuda remains aligned with best practices across the region.”

Mr Simons said one of the group’s priorities was to enhance intelligence sharing between Caribbean forces to track the movement of dangerous individuals and firearms across borders.

Human rights and community protection will also be a focus, with the expansion of mental health and peer support programmes across member states, including early intervention strategies and cross-border sharing of best practices to ensure officers are psychologically equipped to serve.

Mr Simons also plans to implement uniform training standards and victim support protocols, ensuring consistent and effective policing responses to domestic abuse across the Caribbean.

The promotion of safe, equitable work environments through confidential reporting systems, career progression frameworks and mentorship programmes to empower female officers is also in the pipeline.

Mr Simons said: “It is an honour to serve as president of the ACCP during a time when regional unity and collaboration are more important than ever.

“These initiatives represent our collective commitment to protecting our communities, supporting our officers and modernising the way we police across the Caribbean.

“Our objective is to build safe communities through shared responsibility, innovation and purpose-driven leadership.”