Barbados Defence Force (BDF) soldiers and sailors are being trained to exercise new arrest powers under strict legal safeguards, as a senior member of the police high command warned that misuse could undermine public trust and carry serious constitutional consequences.

The second cohort of 26 soldiers in the joint arrest powers training programme with The Barbados Police Service began on Monday with Deputy Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce telling the trainees that the power of arrest is one of the most significant authorities granted to law enforcement officers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt/Barbados TODAY)