Newly graduated Barbados Police Service officers were urged to place integrity and public trust at the centre of their duties, even as sweeping technological and legislative reforms reshape modern policing.

The charge was delivered during the graduation ceremony for Course 150, where Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce, attending her first passing out parade at the Regional Police Training Centre as the newly appointed top cop, joined Michael Lashley, the criminal justice minister.

Lashley used the occasion to outline the government’s investments in the national justice system, including a revised firearms legislative framework and ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing court delays and improving case management. He highlighted technological advancements being integrated into the force, including digital policing systems, intelligence-led strategies and enhanced forensic capabilities, but cautioned that technology alone cannot ensure effective policing.