The CariSECURE project was developed to provide islands in the Caribbean region with a more targeted approach to crime and violence prevention. Using a data-driven, public health approach to crime, CariSECURE seeks to strengthen the capacity of regional and national institutions to collect, analyze and use citizen security data to develop evidence-based policies and programs that effectively target risk factors which drive youth violence, crime and victimization.

Most recently, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reached a major milestone in the CariSECURE project by the completion of the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) coding. An integral aspect of this project involves ICCS coding as it provides a framework for the systematic production and comparison of statistical data across various criminal justice institutions and jurisdictions. Once criminal offences are mapped to the ICCS, crime statistics at various stages of the criminal justice process (police, prosecution, conviction, imprisonment) can be gathered in a format that is standardized, regionally and internationally comparable. Additionally, data formatted in this way can be compared to data from crime victimization surveys for a better understanding of the situation of crime in the country.

The team in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines which comprised of Statisticians and members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and the Ministry of Legal Affairs and worked tirelessly through challenges to eventually complete this important process. Station Sergeant Archibald who led the coding process heralded the hard-work and dedication of the team and the assistance from the CariSECURE Working Group in making the process successful. He also noted that it was an eye-opening experience – “ It was amazing to understand that despite the difference in location (country) and the different ways we do things, once we are in keeping with the laws of the land, we do have a lot in common. The goal is to use data to make more informed policing decisions and be able to make changes to policy in an impactful way that will allow us to build our nation.”

 The completing of ICCS coding will facilitate the  work of national and regional crime analysts who will have access to statistics and data that will assist stakeholders in shaping policies and making more accurate recommendations to bolster crime prevention measures. Moreover, the fact that the ICCS coding allows for a level of standardization in crime data reporting across the Eastern and Southern Caribbean countries, supports greater collaboration, a better understanding of countries’ individual and collective crime circumstances and the sharing of best practices amongst countries. That Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has completed this part of the initiative is a major milestone for both the country and the CariSECURE project.

As the world moves towards a more data-driven reality, the CariSECURE project becomes even more critical. Now that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has successfully completed the ICCS coding, the country can move on to integrating the coding in Police Records Management System (PRIMS). The first module of PRIMS, the Police Incident Form (PIF) involves the transition from paper-based reports to digitally recording the information. Capturing police reports and offences digitally allows for greater accessibility to relevant information and other important crime statistics.

Ultimately, this will all lead to a more data-driven approach to policing, enabling law enforcement officials and statistical agencies to better manage resources and develop specific policies based on the crime statistics. Targeted policy-making will greatly assist in the likely reduction of youth involvement in crime and violence and improve citizen security across the beneficiary territories and generate evidence-based policy analysis.

The CariSECURE Project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by UNDP. Project activities have been implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, the Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Suriname. 

For more information, visit www.bb.undp.org