BVI News

Police conducting random stop-and-searches on Tortola

BVI News photo captured Friday afternoon.

Members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force are currently executing a major stop-and-search operation on the dual carriageway in Road Town, Tortola.

BVI News understands that the operation is in response to reports of stolen vehicles but also to clamp down on random traffic violations.

During the operation, one employee from the Water and Sewerage Department failed to stop when he was signalled by police.

Police subsequently gave chase and apprehended the non-compliant motorist near the traffic lights in the area.

He was handcuffed, searched, and later released.

In the meantime, two marked police vehicles were seen loaded with scooters and headed towards the Road Town Police Station.

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50 Comments

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  1. My 2 cents says:

    The RVIPF does let the killers and drug dealers slide and get a hard on when them see a illegal bike… why are these bikes illegal in the first place? Whats the valid reason? Why did cyril romney make them illegal? Anybody questioning that? No they just got them head stick up them a**… neighboring islanda have these bikes legal smaller islands than we have them legal… tortola backwards and going forever be due to ignorance… i personally feel these police man does do it for the fun of it to be little us cause back in there country them LEGAL!!!! Post my comment please thanks

    Like 13
    Dislike 73
    • @My 2 cents says:

      What the hell does bikes being legal in an officer’s country have to do with BVI laws against illegal bikes? The police don’t make the laws but they have to enforce them whether they agree with them or not. Furthermore, keep people name out of your damn mouth!…go ask those who maintain laws you disagree with…

      Don’t you think these stop and searches can help with catching killers and drug dealers? Use your peanut head for a second and think about if a gun was recovered and tested to see if it matches with any past gun violence offences. Think about possible finds of cocaine, especially large quantities during these searches.

      I’m glad BVINEWS posted your comment so I and others could tell you how stupid your are!

      Like 44
      Dislike 2
    • Safety says:

      Seems to me bikes were banned because the outcome after an accident is not pretty and we don’t really have the facilities to treat motorcycle accident related injuries in a land where people seem to think it’s OK to flout any and all traffic laws. Anyone else remember that kid whose leg got torn right off following a game of chicken with 50 cc mopeds on Beef Island? It cost the govt, hundreds of thousands in med evacuated, surgery in PR, and then he died. On the other hand, one could take a Darwinian approach, and just set the victims and wreckage on the side of the road as a message.

      And, keep in mind po-po are just doing their jobs. The laws were enacted by politicians. If you don’t like the laws, vote and or reach out to your local politician to make your point of view known. Bottom line question remains whether individual freedoms trump overall societal benefit.

      Like 29
    • Rubber Duck says:

      The more motor bikes and scooters they take and crush the better.

      Like 22
      Dislike 3
    • @My two cent says:

      You really need to stfu . So young people must go to jail for a little bit weed ??
      Same weed I to sure your mdf children or you smoking heffa

      Like 3
      Dislike 9
  2. Criminal says:

    Thank you media for giving us the heads up.

    Like 10
    Dislike 15
    • Citizen says:

      RVIPD,thank you. Take back the streets, show the criminals that they don’t run things around here. The criminals want to run things,let them go find a jungle somewhere in the middle of nowhere away from civilization and feed on each other until they wipe each other out. We don’t need those type of people living among us.

      Like 41
      Dislike 1
    • @criminal says:

      You sound exactly the way you should sound,a typical uneducated illiterate fool. No,thank you media for exposing idiots like you. The police is going to be shaking your door very soon.

      Like 20
      Dislike 10
    • Me says:

      This report is after the fact, do you think the media would tell you when it’s happening?

  3. Wonderful says:

    All he had to do was pull over. I am all for stop and search.

    Like 56
    Dislike 3
    • At wonderful says:

      So am I. If the police ask me to pull over, I will pull over. My son is 21 and his father and I always tell him if the police pull you over,you pull over and don’t start running off at the mouth.

      Like 28
      • A parent says:

        @Wonderful, I always stress to my children that drive.If the police signal for you to pull over, you pull over. Don’t be flying of the handle with the disrespect. If they ask to search the car let them. If you have nothing in the car illegal you have nothing to worry about. I also stress to my children,if you feel that you were treated unfairly by the police,you file a complaint.

        Like 11
  4. Yea Right says:

    The operation is in response to reports of stolen vehicles also to clamp down on random traffic violations.Da mek sense? Most likely a knee-jerk reaction to the New Zealand tragedy. Guiltiness is a hell of a thing.

    Like 1
    Dislike 53
    • @Yeah Right says:

      What happened in New Zealand is nothing to compare to stop and search.Innocent people were gunned down in there house of worship just because of the hatred towards Muslims.I am 100% in favor of stop and search. The police signal for me to pull over,I am pulling over. Seems like the ones that have something to hide is not in favor of it. There are laws of the land that should be enforced.

      Like 29
  5. Rebel Soul says:

    Take back the dam streets.

    Like 35
    Dislike 1
    • @Yeah Right says:

      What happened in New Zealand is nothing to compare to stop and search.Innocent people were gunned down in there house of worship just because of the hatred towards Muslims.I am 100% in favor of stop and search. The police signal for me to pull over,I am pulling over. Seems like the ones that have something to hide is not in favor of it. There are laws of the land that should be enforced.

  6. BuzzBvi says:

    At last. Stop and search us all. Nothing to hide then what is lost. W minutes with courteous officers doing their jobs. At last.
    Meaniwhile drug running non helmet wearing bikers who have no regard for anything will finally be a part of our past and Andrew Fahie can help them find lucrative honest jobs inthe marine industry.
    Whilst their is more money and fun on an unlicenced unregulated bike why find a job.
    Please. It is time to straighten this country out.

    Like 46
    Dislike 3
    • observer says:

      So were does Andrew Fahie fall in this , its not Andrews responsiblity to help anyone find a job what people need to do its get off their a** and look for a job and stop expecting someone to give them something he who seek shall find.

      Like 21
    • @buzz says:

      You sound jealous

  7. @My 2 cents says:

    What the h**l does bikes being legal in an officer’s country have to do with BVI laws against illegal bikes? The police don’t make the laws but they have to enforce them whether they agree with them or not. Furthermore, keep people name out of your damn mouth!…go ask those who maintain laws you disagree with…

    Don’t you think these stop and searches can help with catching killers and drug dealers? Use your peanut head for a second and think about if a gun was recovered and tested to see if it matches with any past gun violence offences. Think about possible finds of cocaine, especially large quantities during these searches.

    I’m glad BVINEWS posted your comment so I and others could tell you how stupid your are!

  8. John doe says:

    We dont mind the stop and search but idiots the time and place yall doing things makes no sense…we have children to pick up…boats to catch…flights to catch…and after being in traffic for so long…will u help me get to where im goin when they leave me behind???…timing and place must be looked at…its ok to do ur job…jus do it with sense plz…

    Like 3
    Dislike 21
    • @john Doe says:

      When it comes to stop and search,there is no such thing as timing and place. The police can do stop and search at anytime and place. Then the police will be giving the criminals a head up. I am for stop and search. Not here but, a lot of times because of stop and search the police caught drug and gun runners, killers they were looking for for years and the list goes on.People that is up to no good always out smart themselves.

      Like 10
      Dislike 1
  9. What!!!! says:

    Way to go RVIP , Thank You , take back the streets

    Like 19
    • love says:

      Now listen here they should have taken back the streets eight years ago when N.D.P was in power,but for eight years the police drove around in AC vehicles with their windows up and did not give a s**t about fighting crime.it made it seemed like they were paid to stop fight crime to make the past Government look bad. Now three weeks the new Government is in and they have stop and search when people need to get home from work.Where were they when the young man was gunned down at brandywine bay the two young men five minutes from road town police station,the young lady from lower hope hill, the young man in crabbe lot and just about a month ago this young man up the ghut and the list goes on. To this day the police have no answers for the families of these men and women. its a shame they were not doing stop and search to find the guns that killed those people.May God have mercy upon us all when the people that are paid to protect us are crooks themselves. Most of them is just in the force that they don’t have to pay for a work permit and immigration time and moonlight on their days off.some of them should not be in the force. If proper background checks were done on them before employing them we would be safer.Base on the test one have to take to be come a police office i wonder how some of them make so quickly after being in the Virgin Islands only one month.From my understanding one have to know about the Virgin Islands history to take that test. some people have lived hers twenty years plus and still dont know much about the virgin islands. when they go on interviews for naturalization, Belongers, and residence the cant answer simple questions about the virgin islands like what is the national flower,when is H.L. Stout Birthday and so many other simple things about the island.if you live in a Country and want to make it your home show some intrest.The police needs to get out of the station and do foot patrol and get some courage to do the work they are being paid to do and stop sleeping with each other period and driving around in AC vehicles in other Caribbean countries foot patrol is a must.Goverment keep buying the police a bunch of high maintenance vehicle the dont take care of.

      Like 10
      Dislike 8
  10. Please, Sir, may we have some more... says:

    This needs to get done randomly at least once (1×) a week or twice (2x) a month

    Like 16
  11. Citizen says:

    RVIPD,thank you. Take back the streets, show the criminals that they don’t run things around here. The criminals want to run things,let them go find a jungle somewhere in the middle of nowhere away from civilization and feed on each other until they wipe each other out. We don’t need those type of people living among us.

    Like 15
  12. Anonymous says:

    Why the gun pointing though…..is it that bad.

    Like 3
    Dislike 10
  13. richgdgy says:

    A CONSERVATIVE way of doing things!God only knows you guys need that.

  14. BVI says:

    It is not the job of the government to raise your children and give them jobs. How about parents start parenting and young adults start earning what they want instead of looking handouts

    Like 15
  15. Reasonable Man says:

    Scooters riders unlicensed and riding like maniacs. Drivers running red lights and passing dangerously. The police need to do this for a period of time to re-establish control over how people drive and act on our roads. I wouldn’t want to find myself forever being stopped for no good reason but would be happy to see some of that for periods now and then to get back some safety and civility on the roads.

    Like 17
    • Concerned says:

      Another thing they need to do just stand by the traffic-light and ticket all the vehicles driving through the red light including bikes. I am tired watching that happening.

  16. Free up says:

    Free up the bikes!

    Like 1
    Dislike 18
  17. BuzzBvi says:

    Thank you for your comment.However,most of the young people in this Country don’t want to hear anything about working. They want the easy way out. There work ethics is based on slanging drugs and robbing and taking from others.They don’t seem to understand is that they will NEVER get rich dealing drugs and doing stick up jobs. I guess they are trying to establish Pablo Escobar and El chappo status. Pablo Escobar is pushing up Daseys and El chappo,the FEDS own him,he will never see the light of day.

    Like 22
    • Really? says:

      So how i get rich then?????

      Dislike 16
      • @Really? says:

        You are nothing more than a poser trying to get your come up in the game. Slanging a few bags of nose candy or weed does not make you rich.

    • BS!!! says:

      This is BS – “most of the young people in this country don’t want to hear anything about working”. If that was even close to true we would have a crime rate that was near to anarchy. For sure there are some bad apples out there but don’t paint everyone with the same generalized brush – it’s simply not true. The youth of the BVI is the future of the BVI and most are good people looking for an honest opportunity.

  18. Feel more safer says:

    For me,stop and search makes me feel a bit safer. I work the late shift, on my way home, when I see a group of young black men just cruising or on bikes that time of night,I get a bit nervous thinking they are going to do something or they are up to no good. Before you start to hollering about a White person wrote this, no, this comment is coming from a Black woman.

    Like 22
    Dislike 3
  19. At wonderful says:

    So am I. If the police ask me to pull over, I will pull over. My son is 21 and his father and I always tell him if the police pull you over,you pull over and don’t start running off at the mouth.

  20. Soooooo says:

    A Water and Sewage employee fail to stop when he was asked and decide to run. I am not saying to terminate his employment,he should be held accountable by his employer. IE.. Pay a fine or get suspended without pay for a week. One thing about here is people want to do as they please and make their own laws. A big norm in the BVI.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  21. Oh boy says:

    Mr Anonymous that is not a Gun. You so Anti Police. But any way, what the h**l you expect the Police to have their hands and why you think that the Police should not have the Gun in that Position. When all you see the criminals with the Guns you all shut up. Talking bull bout you don’t RAT.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  22. Unconstitutional... says:

    If stopping someone for a reason, other than violation of a highway code…unless the person you pull over fits a certain description of one who is wanted on suspicion for committing another offence, then the stop is unconstitutional.

    The stop is only constitutional with reasonable suspicion.

    The search is only constitutional with reasonable belief.

    The arrest is only constitutional with probable cause.

    Please don’t get stop and search happy. Let’s make sure we respecting everyone’s rights.

    I see gun pull out and someone being searched. Unreasonable stop and search will be committed, even if evidence of crime found, without the prerequisite reasonable suspicion, reasonable belief and probable cause. Any evidence will therefore be suppressed or else the trial would be deemed unfair and ultimately thrown out.

    Heads up.

    Like 8
    Dislike 4
  23. Disinterested says:

    Safety must be balanced with the rights and freedom of residents. This random stop and search looks similarly to the frisk and stop in New York City that was deemed by the courts to be employed in an unconstitutional manner. No doubts there are situations where stop and search are warranted. There should specific and strict control to using them to prevent law abiding citizens from being abused and harassed. This must so that police power is not abused. Stop and searches should be based on strong reasonable suspicion and probable cause. Not averse to stop and search provided they don’t impinge on the rights and freedom of law abiding citizens.

  24. Facts says:

    I would say this aga again . There are so many big trucks running on the road without licence and insurance and the police are not doing anything about it.up to yesterday most of the trucks that was transporting sand was not licenced and insured. As a matter of fact some dont even have any stickers on there windshield and they were driving pass the stop and search team. And i would further say this ,most of the trucks in the eastern part of the island are not licenced and insured.

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