THE CENTER, LOCATED ON BARBADOS AND ESTABLISHED WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN 1956, INVOLVES THE COOPERATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN BARBADOS, TRINIDAD, TOBAGO, AND THE WINDWARD AND LEEWARD ISLANDS IN A JOINT APPROACH TO POLICE TRAINING. THE CENTER FUNCTIONS ON AN INFORMAL BASIS WITHOUT LEGAL FOUNDATION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, THUS AVOIDING THE STUMBLING BLOCKS OF ELUSIVE POLITICAL CONCENSUS. WITHOUT FORMAL STATUTES OR AGREEMENTS, THE CENTER GOVERNS PARTICIPATION OF TERRITORIES, ADMINISTRATIVE, CURRICULAR, AND ALL OTHER MATTERS THROUGH AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF CHIEF OFFICERS OF POLICE. STAFFING AND FINANCING IS ARRANGED ON A PROPORTIONATE BASIS AMONG PARTICIPATING TERRITORIES. THE OBJECT IS PRIMARILY TO TEACH RECRUITS THE BASICS OF POLICE WORK, SUCH AS THE USE OF A PATROL BOOK AND THE PROCEDURES GOVERNING CHARGES AND ARRESTS. REFRESHER COURSES INCLUDE SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND COURT PROSECUTION. THE ADVANTAGE OF THE CENTER IS THAT ITS TRAINING IS FAR MORE MODERN, ECONOMICAL, AND UNIFORM, THAN THAT POSSIBLE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ISLANDS TO CONDUCT. COOPERATION EXISTS BETWEEN THE CENTER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES OF THE U.N. LATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION. PLANNNED IMPROVEMENTS (E.G., AND EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRIME BUREAU AND RESEARCH CENTER AND A FORENSIC LABORATORY) ARE DISCUSSED AS ARE PROPOSALS ON COMMON SERVICES FOR THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (E.G., CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURTS AND A REGIONAL PRISON). FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (MRK)