Law enforcement authorities in Dominica are now better able to coordinate and collaborate during investigations of financial crime following the introduction of a Cash Forfeiture Handbook.
The handbook was presented by the Regional Security System (RSS ARU) during a handing-over ceremony held at the Office of Disaster Management conference room in Jimmit on Wednesday.
According to Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Mckelson Ferrol, who was addressed the ceremony, the strengthening of the Civil Cash Forfeiture is paramount for law enforcement.
“With the issuance of these books, law enforcement authorities in Dominica are better able to coordinate and collaborate in their investigations in financial crime,” he said. “Therefore, an assessment of the current situation identified that there was a need for the development of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force Cash Forfeiture Handbook,” he said.
He continued, “This handbook aims to bring a standardized approach as to how cash is handled and secured by all police officers and other law enforcement agencies.”
Ferrol listed some of the benefits of the standards when maintained by the police and other law enforcement agencies in Dominica.
“Fulfilling the financial action task force standards…create structured approach for cooperation by law enforcement practitioners, create standardized approach to investigations, good policy strategy initiatives by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, increase public confidence, increase the number of civil assets forfeit matters that are investigated, signed and determined by limited judicial technicalities…,” he noted.
He said the Cash Forfeiture Handbook is keeping with the legislative reform and aims to be a practical guide in the seizure, detention, and forfeiture of cash in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
“This combined drive and support from the RSS ARU in regards to Dominica’s effort to combat financial crime, continues to bear fruits,” he stated.
Director of the RSS Asset Recovery Unit, Kisha Sutherland said this handbook advances Dominica’s alternative approach to crime fighting to attack criminals where it hurts the most, “their pockets”.
“The Cash Forfeiture Handbook serves as a guide for law enforcement agencies and officers in dealing with situations when cash is suspected of being derived or intended for illegal activities,” she stated. “It outlines the steps and procedures to be followed when seizing cash and the subsequent handling of such cases.”
Sutherland said the handbook emphasizes the importance of due process and the protection of individual rights during cash seizure operations.
“It outlines the need for proper documentation, including detailed records of seized cash, circumstances leading to the seizure, and the identities of the individuals involved,” she added. “The handbook provides guidance on the handling and storage of seized cash to ensure its security and integrity.”
Sutherland mentioned further that by following the guidelines contained in the handbook, she’s confident that officers can ensure that their actions are fair, legally sound, and focused on combating criminal activities effectively. She said the Regional Security System as a recovery unit hopes that the Cash Forfeiture Handbook will play a vital role in promoting justice and upholding the rule of law when dealing with situations involving the seizure of cash.
“Its guidelines and procedures provide a comprehensive framework for law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties responsibly and ethically,” Sutherland stated.
Meanwhile, Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore indicated that it is important to have a handbook that can serve as an effective tool as an appropriate reference point, “whereby the relevant laws can be articulated and detailed and procedures and best practices can be outlined and followed by the law enforcement officials.”
Blackmoore said he supports the notion, especially pertaining to money laundering, that in order to deter those criminals, “we have to ensure that we extract, [that] you take away the profit from that enterprise.”
The minister commended the efforts of the FIU in Dominica for ensuring over the years that over 10 million-dollars have been forfeited. He said the money has been placed into the fight against crime in Dominica.
I’m patiently waiting for them to pay a visit to the Skerrit household.
Ok is now skerro going jail. ( scratch that ) We just need some competent financial investigators and guys with a backbone to actually do there job
Oh and a police commissioner who is not from Dominica so harder for the political rats to apply pressure on
Civil asset forfeiture is wrong. No government agency should have the right to take away a person’s cash before they are convicted of a crime related to that cash. It is too easy for authorities to abuse this power, or apply it mistakenly. If a man has ten thousand dollars in his possession, does that automatically make him a criminal? There are multiple scenarios where one could be in perfectly legitimate possession of such sums of cash. When banana was reigning in Dominica, it was not unknown for a farmer to head to Roseau with thousands of dollars to buy a vehicle.
Think also of the inconvenience and hardship visited on a citizen who loses the use of his money. Even if he gets it back after the fact, it would still be a very difficult experience for anyone. Due process should happen before inflicting such hardship, not after.
Innocent until proven guilty.
This isn’t Civil asset forfeiture, it’s Civil cash forfeiture
Umm, maybe you didn’t know this but cash is an asset. In fact the article does refer to asset forfeiture:
“…increase the number of civil assets forfeit matters…”
“Director of the RSS Asset Recovery Unit…”
You got that?