Government Strengthens Violence Prevention Strategy and Data-Driven Policing

Efforts to strengthen public safety and tackle violence are being advanced on two fronts, with a renewed national focus on violence prevention and youth resilience, alongside continued efforts by the Belize Police Department to improve data-driven policing. The Leadership Intervention Unit Steering Committee met on Wednesday, July 15, to review and strengthen the strategic direction of the LIU’s national mandate. The discussions focused on Belize’s approach to public safety, violence prevention and youth development.  During the meeting, the committee conducted a comprehensive review of the existing LIU Strategic Plan. Following extensive analysis and discussion, the committee consolidated the initiative into a single framework known as the Belize National Violence Prevention and Youth Resilience Programme.  The framework is expected to guide the country’s efforts to address the factors contributing to violence while strengthening interventions aimed at supporting at-risk youth and building more resilient communities.  In related news, the Belize Police Department’s Eastern Division also held its second-quarter CompStat meeting on Wednesday at the Queen Street Training Room.

The meeting was led by Officer Commanding Eastern Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Reymundo Reyes, along with his deputies, Senior Superintendent Juanito Cocom and Superintendent Antonio Gomez.  The session was attended by Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat, Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado, Deputy Commissioners Sandra Bowden and Alden Dawson, Assistant Commissioner Alford Grinage, and commanders from various divisions, precincts and specialized units.  During the meeting, precinct and unit commanders presented their crime statistics, progress and policing strategies for the second quarter of 2026. ACP Reyes reviewed the presentations and provided feedback on existing strategies while identifying areas where further improvements are needed.  Minister Espat and Commissioner Rosado also addressed the meeting, emphasizing the importance of using crime statistics and other data to guide policing strategies and improve public safety./