VISION
Towards efficient, professional and quality investigations of crime
MISSION
To shoulder and execute the responsibilities entrusted upon in carrying out effective, professional, systematic and quality investigations that are consistent with the criminal orders and laws of Negara Brunei Darussalam.
INTRODUCTION
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was first established in 1950. At the beggining of its establishment, the CID existed as only a small unit in the Royal Brunei Police Force. Its existence came as a result of a demand and need for RBPF to fulfill the requirements of the country and community. With that, the Criminal investigation Department was endowed with the powers in line with the duties and responsibilities to be carried out as stated under section 7 of the Royal Brunei Police Force Act, Chapter 50, which are:
- To Maintain Law and Order
- To Preserve the Public Peace
- To Prevent and Detect crime
- To Apprehend and Prosecute Offenders and Collect Security Intelligence.
The CID is undergoing continuous developments and at present has formed new divisions and units based on the priorities and needs in facing and putting forward the best efforts to contain all manner of criminal activities.
The organizational structure of CID is as follows:-
Furthermore, the CID also hopes to be able to carry out duties and responsibilities in line with vision, mission and functions of this department optimally and effectively
FUNCTIONS & ROLES
- To enforce law and order of the country
- To provide service to the community
- To prevent crime
- To apprehend offenders
- To conduct investigations on cases relating to offences breaking the law and acts.
To ensure efficiency and effective supervison, all officers and personnel under the CID are required to follow all procedures pertaining to duties and responsibilities handled by CID as underlined in the force orders thats been released.
On the 1st of January 2009, the RBPF have entered its 88th year anniversary. This year, RBPF has chosen the theme “service based on professionalism and integrity” as the theme to commemorate Police Day of 2009, with the aim to further improve policing professionalism and performance in addition to productivity amongst all officers and personnel.
There is also importance stressed upon the way police personnel approach their daily duties, which will reflect on their level and quality of performance, which needs to be evaluated and monitored consistently. With a more professional approach, the CID hopes that the progress towards solving cases and concurrently reducing the rate of crime will be reflected positively.
Based on statistical data of crimes from 2007, the number of cases reported for that particulat year is 3379. However, in 2008, cases have dropped to 3090, which is the lowest count for the last 5 consecutive years. Obviously, this is due to the diligence on all parties involved within the force, along with the assistance and cooperation from all enforcement agencies not to mention members of the public who have provided crucial information resulting in the capture of those responsible to to be brought to justice.
In the efforts to combat and wipe out crime, CID have come up with three main strategies:-
1) In order to improve the performance and quality of investigations, RBPF have set up a crime scene unit within the department. With the advent of this unit, many chages have occurred in terms of investigation patterns and landscapes. Training and courses on investigation and management must be increased so that officers and personnel involved in investigations will possess the expertise needed to be more skilled and efficient, especially in scientific and forensic investigations. With these courses and training provided and briefing in place, the force hopes that all police officers and personnel involved in investigations will be more knowledgeable and skillfull pertaining to the scientific and forensics aspects of investigations, as well as be more sensitive towards the forensic procedures required by the courts while conducting their investigations. The CID also hopes that the force will be able to implement development of a DNA database along with other advancements in ICT and the latest technology in the field of forensics with the aim to further enhance the efficiency of investigations in conjunction with the detection and prevention of crime.
2) To emphasize on aspects of crime prevention. Focus needs to be given on operations of prevention by launching raids upon targets of criminal activities. By increasing the rate and speed at which the Police act on crime, it will send out an ultimatum to those would-be criminals, reducing the number and rate of criminals and crime as a result of offenders being succeessfully apprehended and sentenced.
3) Emphasis is also given in raising the awareness of members of the community to collectively take steps to prevent crime. From the experience of the CID, many cases of crime could have been prevented had the public been more responsible and alert towards the safety of their properties. This attitude needs to be instilled in the public as a measure against crime.
Police research has shown that many crimes happen as a result of carelessness and negilience on part of the victim, which presents an opportunity to the criminal to take advantage of. However, from a different perspective, the environment can also be a factor or cause for crime to happen.
Hence, it becomes imperative for all respective agencies to act accordingly and cooperatively in order to create a healthy ambiance and environment within the community, a condusive measure to preventing crime. Therefore, it is clear how important all responsible parties are in their roles towards combating crime in the country.
