BVI News

Crime strategy effective but there are law enforcement deficiencies

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed confidence in the BVI’s crime strategy even as concerns mount over increasing incidents of violent crime in the territory. 

Dr Wheatley gave that indication while responding to Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton during a recent sitting of the House of Assembly over details about the national security strategy and ongoing efforts to enhance law enforcement effectiveness.

Dr Wheatley noted, however, that there was a recent law enforcement review which identified deficiencies in the ability of law enforcement to deliver on the strategy from an optimal standpoint.

“Those deficiencies would have to be addressed for us to effectively execute the strategy,” the Premier expressed. “But it is quite obvious based on our high standards as it pertains to crime prevention here in the territory, that more must be done.”

The current strategy, underpinned by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force’s four-year plan, focuses on key areas including policing confidence, border security, community policing, and continuous professional development. 

He said the crime strategy involves data collection and analysis to identify crime patterns and hot spots which guide resource allocation and strategy adjustments. Dr Wheatley also mentioned the importance of prevention and intervention programmes that address the root causes of crime.

The review also explored efforts to boost law enforcement capabilities. These include recruiting additional officers and enhancing multi-agency collaboration among the police force, Immigration, Customs, and community organisations. 

Last year, the Premier announced that his government would host an anti-crime summit in the first quarter of 2024, but it is unclear whether the summit will still be held in the coming months.

At the time, Premier Wheatley said the summit would draw on the expertise of various stakeholder groups including religious organisations, government agencies, schools, the police and other civil society groups.

Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley expressed that his government is committed to transparency and plans to publish the findings and recommendations of the law enforcement review. 

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12 Comments

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  1. Styles. says:

    “He said the crime strategy involves data collection and analysis to identify crime patterns and hot spots which guide resource allocation and strategy adjustments. Dr Wheatley also mentioned the importance of prevention and intervention programmes that address the root causes of crime.”

    This are a lot of fancy words confirming that Natalio has no clue what he is doing.

    The only thing Natalio do with criminals is befriend them or become their lapdog.

    • Non Cents says:

      Data Collection???
      A Lil place like this? Collect data with your eyeballs. Stop the false make believe Nancy story.
      Look at these marching up the hill to take up free residence in Balsum,eyeball who in and out of the Courts..u know them and their gene pool by sight.,.vast vast majority are updeislun with hearsay daddies.
      Limit these imports, moratorium on the major CARICOMERS..Playing games and doe see dough with enemies of our country simply because we share kisses by the sun is suicidal,

      Like 4
      Dislike 1
  2. Ok says:

    The police is working for west * maybe when West * money run out they’ll have to go back to policing

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  3. maria louisa varlack says:

    i was born on the island of tortola british virgin island on may 22 1968. i have never been trained in law enforcement. i have no military experience. my education ability is at the level of a practical nurse. in 56 years of my life knowing the british virgin islands where i was born. it is apparent that for decades this territory has been a place for drugs and guns and crime and violence. yes these horrible acts by human beings take place all over the world. the british virgin islands is not exempt for these activities to take place in the british virgin islands. i am not involved with the public service commission. i do not work in law enforcement but having grew up in the british virgin islands over 50 years ago there is definitely something going wrong in the territory of the british virgin islands where crime and drugs and guns and violence is concerned. i am not a politician either. therefore it appears to be that the politicians and lawmakers and law enforcement have to work harder at curbing these unlawful activities in the british virgin islands. a book has been written, murder in paradise. again these events take place everywhere and everywhere human beings have no control over what take place but as a bvi islander it is sad about going on in territory where i was born. it seems to me by now everyone including myself has given up hope.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  4. ColorBlind says:

    Simply obvious
    CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHIC..
    The VI,prior to the mas
    sive immigrant influxmwas a ZERO crime Caribbean Island.
    Subsequent to the influx of immigrants of various countries.,,130 plus..the crime has ballooned vehemently…The dominant imported goups,specifically tat from the upper Caribbean Islands is and has been the sole contributor to the upsurge of crime and the deraded quality if life in these VI.
    It is and has been glaringly evident,however this single group of known defect continues to be imported,the illegals openly inhabit…
    A moratorium on this demographic entrants,a massive expulsion of the hundreds imprisoned ,an expulsion of those disruptive of our education,roundup and deportation of the illegals etc
    DRAINTHESWAMP and refrain from the game of partnership in the abhorrent crime of destroying
    our present and our future. We can’t breathe!

    Like 3
    Dislike 3
  5. I says:

    Rid the place of known criminals and refrain from importing potential criminals is the only sensible way.

  6. Crazy says:

    The Cops here are on vacation as despite all the ramblings, BVI is a very very safe place to be in 2024. Then there are those that accept bribes to turn the other way. Can you imagine making your entire annual salary, tax free by just giving information or looking the other way? They do it all the time, it won’t change, welcome to Paradise!

  7. Blame Game says:

    will never end in the xenophobic BVI. Crime is crime and where the criminal was born and grew up is irrelevant. Read the weekly Criminal High Court list and the majority of the surnames are criminals born and raised in the BVI.

  8. @ CRAZY says:

    you seem to know a lot , [ it’s always the island people them is the problem , yeah rite , give a dog a bad name and hang it ,( the police girl who was caught giving information to drug friends and was telling them not to forget her dollars where is from ?

  9. It starts small says:

    So many youth no helment no licence on bikes in the police station vicinity. Without even basic traffic law enforcement they will move onto larger offences (with almost certainty of no conviction!)

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