Over 40 officers in the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) are now better equipped to handle rape and other sexual related assault cases.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) recently conducted an intensive training programme for officers of the RGPF, focusing on the effective handling of rape and sexual assault cases.
‘This initiative underscores the shared commitment of the United Kingdom and Grenada to uphold justice, protect human dignity, and safeguard the most vulnerable members of society,’ says a news release from Grenada’s British High Commission Office.
The release explains that recognizing the profound impact of sexual violence and the long-lasting trauma it inflicts, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with support from Virgin Atlantic, funded this specialized training delivered by two NCA experts.
At the opening ceremony, Charley Williams, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean said that Sexual violence is among the gravest violations of human rights.
‘Its consequences extend far beyond the immediate harm, leaving deep and lasting scars on individuals, families, and communities. How law enforcement responds to such crimes is critical, for the pursuit of justice and restoring trust and the healing of victims,’ he told the participants.
The week-long training covered advanced interviewing and investigative techniques, victim-centered approaches, support structures, and complex case management.
According to the release, the programme was designed in line with international standards and best practices to strengthen victim care and improve outcomes in sexual violence cases.
In May 2025, the Criminal Justice Reform Committee whose Chairperson is Madam Justice Gilford, launched an initiative with the primary object being public education on social issues affecting communities,
The Committee is currently engaged in spotlighting ‘Sexual Offenses’ as one of the topics of the Committee’s public awareness campaign in schools in Grenada. This public awareness campaign aims to edify persons in the community about sexual offenses -particularly minors- who are often affected by these crimes – be they perpetrators or victims.
In an interview in July 2025, Legal Affairs Minister Claudette Joseph said that sexual related offenses are high in Grenada and there are several people who are abusive to children. She called on the religious community to stop protecting these predators who are sometimes shielding themselves behind the cloth.