Domestic abuse accounts for up to 40% of crimes

Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger has estimated that domestic abuse accounts for between 35 and 40 per cent of crimes recorded in the territory, describing the prevalence of such incidents as one of his biggest concerns.

Ullger made the disclosure during a recent appearance on the Talking Points radio programme, where he discussed crime detection and the challenges facing the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

He said the force currently has a crime detection rate of 44 per cent, which compares favourably with rates recorded by other British police forces and Overseas Territories.

“Our detection rate of crime is 44%. When you compare that with other British policing forces or the overseas territories from Gibraltar where I came from, that is a very, very good detection rate,” Ullger stated.

However, the acting commissioner said domestic abuse represented a substantial portion of the force’s caseload.

“I think probably one of my biggest concerns at the moment is the fact that I would say anything between 35 and 40 percent of our crimes are domestic abuse,” Ullger stated.

He said domestic abuse incidents appear regularly in the daily reports he reviews before arriving at work. Ullger cautioned that an increase in reports could mean either that incidents are rising or that victims have greater confidence in the police.

“One can say that it’s increasing. Yes, it could be. The other thing as well is that people are having the confidence and trust to report it to us,” Ullger stated.

He said increased reporting could also reflect public confidence that police will act on complaints.

Previous RVIPF figures reinforce the scale of the problem. According to a February 2026 report, nearly 49 per cent of all assaults investigated during 2025 arose from domestic violence incidents. Police had also identified domestic violence as the territory’s most reported criminal offence in 2023.

Ullger said police officers are not exempt from investigation or prosecution in domestic abuse cases. He noted that the force recently arrested and charged an officer in connection with such a matter.

“The police officers are not above the law in any way, shape, or form,” Ullger stated.

He said the force would treat victims respectfully and apply the law equally to accused persons.

“Anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse will be treated with the utmost respect. And anyone who is an offender, whether you’re a police officer or not, you will be treated equally the same,” Ullger stated.