On September 7, 2026, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) joined law enforcement agencies across the globe to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, a yearly observance that spotlights how cross-border collaboration strengthens public safety, supports crime victims, and shields local communities.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 2022, the annual day honors the critical role of international policing partnerships in advancing global peace, security, and equal justice. This year’s commemoration centers on the official theme: “Protecting against Vulnerability, Building Trust and Legitimacy in Policing,” which prioritizes safeguarding populations most at risk of criminal harm while reinforcing the transparency, accountability, and public trust that underpin effective modern policing.
For the small island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, cross-border police cooperation has become an indispensable tool for tackling transnational crime, which by nature does not respect national borders. Through long-standing partnerships with INTERPOL, regional security bodies, and other global law enforcement counterparts, the RPFAB has gained critical capabilities to advance public safety. These collaborations enable real-time intelligence sharing, targeted tracking of wanted fugitives, coordinated probes into cross-border criminal activity, more robust defense against cybercrime, and more effective tracing of illicit firearms and drug traffickers moving across jurisdictions. Beyond operational coordination, global partnerships also grant the RPFAB access to cutting-edge specialized training, expert knowledge, investigative technologies, global criminal databases, and shared resources that drastically boost the force’s capacity to prevent, detect, and solve crime.
The tangible benefits of these partnerships extend far beyond routine law enforcement operations. They directly contribute to protecting vulnerable crime victims, dismantling transnational organized criminal networks, recovering stolen assets and property, arresting fugitives who have fled across borders, and upholding the overall safety and security of Antigua and Barbuda’s population.
RPFAB Commissioner Everton Jeffers emphasized that sustained, strong ties with regional and international policing partners are non-negotiable for effective public safety. “Crime recognizes no geographical boundary, and neither can our determination to confront it,” Jeffers stated. “International police cooperation gives us the ability to combine our intelligence, expertise and resources with those of trusted partners around the world to protect our people and bring offenders to justice.”
Jeffers also noted that a police force’s effectiveness is ultimately rooted in the confidence of the communities it serves. “We will therefore continue to strengthen our partnerships at home, across the region and internationally, while policing with integrity, professionalism, fairness and respect for all,” he added. The commissioner also publicly recognized the relentless dedication of rank-and-file police officers and law enforcement professionals who work daily with global counterparts to exchange information, coordinate cross-border investigations, and support operations designed to make local communities safer.
As it stands today, INTERPOL connects law enforcement agencies across 196 member countries, creating a global network that allows intelligence and evidence shared in one jurisdiction to directly advance investigations and operations in another. As policing organizations around the world marked the 2026 International Day of Police Cooperation, the RPFAB reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to deepening its relationships with INTERPOL and all other regional and international law enforcement partners.
The force also renewed its core pledges: to protect vulnerable populations, build and maintain public trust, uphold the rule of law, and collaborate closely with both local communities and global partners to address evolving transnational security threats. The end goal, the force confirmed, is to build a safer, more secure future for all residents of Antigua and Barbuda.