The Barbados Police Service (BPS) is calling on the nation’s youth to “answer the call to serve” as it embarks on a massive recruitment drive to bolster its ranks and modernise for the future.
A special recruitment fair will be held on Saturday, an event Police Communications and Public Affairs Officer, Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, said is “about more than numbers”.
“We’re 254 officers short,” Brathwaite revealed.
“Those on the ground are working tirelessly, often doubling up to meet the needs of the public. They’re serving Barbados well but we need reinforcements. Recruitment is now a national priority.”
The shortfall has been caused by a mix of retirements, resignations, illness and deaths, creating a gap that threatens to stretch the Service’s ability to respond effectively across all policing areas.
The recruitment fair, however, is not just about filling vacancies, it’s about re-imagining the Service for a new era of crime, where technology and specialised knowledge are just as important as traditional policing.
“Crime has evolved,” Brathwaite said. “We’re now dealing with cybercrime, financial crimes, drone surveillance and forensic technology. We need people with scientific minds, tech skills and integrity to meet that challenge. That’s why this fair will showcase every arm of the modern Police Service, to show young Barbadians that this is a profession of purpose and possibility.”
Visitors to the fair at the Police Sports Club, Weymouth, St Michael, will get a rare, close-up look at the inner workings of The BPS. The Tactical Response Unit, Cybercrime Unit, Family Conflict Department, Forensics, Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Canine and Marine Units, Traffic Department and the Drone Operations Team will all be on display. Officers will conduct live simulations, including drone flights and canine demonstrations, while recruiters walk prospective applicants through career opportunities and training pathways.
Attendees can also begin the application process on site, with recruitment officers available to verify documents and answer questions about the six-month training programme at the Regional Police Training Centre.
The BPS is targeting Barbadians aged 19 to 35, though special constable
applicants, who can later transition to full officers, are accepted up to age 40.
“We’re looking for honest, hardworking people who want to serve with pride and integrity,” Brathwaite said.
“This isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. The best job in the world, if you ask me.”
While he admitted that recruitment has been slow in recent years, particularly among young men, Brathwaite believed that transparency, community engagement, and modernisation were key to attracting new talent.
“We’ve had some difficulty attracting adequate numbers of suitable applicants, especially males,” he said.
“Part of rebuilding that trust and interest is showing what policing looks like today, how dynamic and essential it is. We’re a 190-year-old institution but one that’s constantly evolving.”
That evolution includes a renewed focus on professional standards and public accountability, with the Office of Professional Responsibility charged with investigating complaints to ensure officers uphold core values.
The recruitment push also coincides with the Government’s ongoing public sector regrading exercise, which includes a review of police compensation.
Brathwaite said: “This job remains one of the most meaningful careers you can have, serving your community, protecting your nation and helping to make Barbados safer for everyone.”
He said the theme for this year’s drive, Serving With Pride, Protecting With Honour, embodies the spirit the Service hopes to reignite.
“We want people who will wear that badge with dignity,” Brathwaite said.
“Policing is about respect, discipline, and service. It’s about being that steady hand in times of crisis. And right now, Barbados needs those hands.” (NS)
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