For the past 47 years the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has had a reserve that has been crucial to the organisation’s war on crime.

Every August the RBPF honours the men and women who they say make it possible for officers on the frontline to do their jobs more effectively.

Sergeant Helouise Stewart said the officers are from the community and have regular jobs, but take it upon themselves to put their lives at risk for their country.

“Reserves can be found in 14 islands along with New Providence; we’ve got them in all of the major Family Islands,” she said. “We have reserves who are lawyers, accountants, teachers, carpenters, mechanics, every walk of life, so we are very capable.”

Sgt. Stewart said the reserve arm was established in 1965 with 59 men in the first squad, and added three women a few years later.

“Our strength is now 1,030 officers and as of July 1 I am proud to say that our ranks have expanded,” she added.

“We now have an assistant commissioner of police with the reserves, we have three chief superintendents and we have over 25 superintendents along with the other ranks. So we are moving a long and doing great things.”

The RBPF has a number of activities planned for the month of August.

Sgt. Stuart said the reserve arm has an ongoing recruiting programme.