Deputy Commissioner of Police Albert Wade has outlined the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda's official protocol for the detention of minors, offering clarity amid growing public discussion surrounding cannabis regulations and smoking in public spaces.
According to Antigua Observer, DCP Wade addressed the practical challenges officers face when patrolling and enforcing laws that apply differently to minors and adults. He noted that determining a person's age by sight alone presents a genuine difficulty for officers in the field, raising questions about how police should proceed when the age of an individual is uncertain.
The clarification comes as debates around public cannabis use and curfew enforcement have intensified, prompting calls from the public and stakeholders for greater transparency around how young people are handled when stopped or detained by police.
DCP Wade's remarks are intended to provide both officers and the public with a clearer understanding of the procedures in place to ensure that minors are treated appropriately and in accordance with established legal standards during enforcement operations.
