BVI News

Public distrust of RVIPF leads top cop to open direct line to himself

Commissioner of Police, Mark Collins.

Acknowledging a large lack of public trust towards his officers, newly-appointed Police Commissioner, Mark Collins has temporarily launched a personal hotline for any member of the public to contact him with information.

Commissioner Collins announced the hotline and challenged residents to use it on Tuesday during his first press conference since taking office.

“I’ve only been in this territory for a little over a month. I have no allegiances or bonds with anyone. There is nothing to fear with me … My number is 368-7937. It is a phone that only I will have access to and I will answer. This challenge is for exactly one month starting today, the 25th of May,” Collins said.

Not only can the hotline be used to share information on serious crime such as current unsolved murders in the BVI, but it was also created so residents can inform the top cop about any corrupt officers within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Collins pledged that any allegations brought to him will be investigated.

Review of RVIPF’s Professional Standards Department

In accepting that some persons within the RVIPF engage in wrongdoing, Commissioner Collins said he plans to sanction an assessment of the police’s Professional Standards Department.

This department deals with all allegations against police officers.

“I will be looking to review the whole Professional Standards Department that we’ve got within the organisation in terms of the number of staff that we’ve got and the complaints that we’ve got. So, be rest assured that I take professional standards very seriously and I will hold officers accountable under the code of conduct,” the new top cop stated.

‘No wholesale investigation of the Force’

And while answering questions as to whether an investigation would be conducted into the entire RVIPF, Collins suggested that such a probe would be imprudent and counterproductive.

“I’m not going to commission a wholesale investigation into the whole of the police force … If I’ve got allegations of wrongdoing and issues are brought to my attention, then I will deal with them robustly against the code of conduct for professionalism of the police service,” he said.

A number of RVIPF officers are currently suspended as they are facing criminal proceedings at the local courts.

Ordinarily, persons who may have information of interest to the RVIPF can contact the Major Crime Team at 284-368-5682 or the head of that team, Inspector Vernon Larocque, at 284-368-9809.

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12 Comments

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  1. ROfL says:

    Corrupt cops well dem get what the duck get. ..
    wa them number is Again^__

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
  2. Nice!! says:

    Good move, Top Cop!! Let’s see if it’s really an issue of public distrust in police or we just a people like living in lawlessness. Folks, put up or shut up!! Let’s start talking.

    Like 34
    Dislike 1
  3. ok then says:

    Can you tell me if the phone line will be secured, since, there are persons in the BVI who have access to technology that allows them to hack people’s devices without a trace.

    Like 1
    Dislike 8
  4. Okay! says:

    All cellular phones in the Virgin Islands are bugged. That is a fact. Any confidential information given locally will be eaves dropped upon. I am certain many of you here have heard strange squelching sounds on your cellular phones while in conversation. Yes they are listening. And I am a law abiding citizen at that with nothing to hide. While I applaud the challenge thrown out to the community by the Commissioner of Police. This need to be carefully considered. Trust no one!

    Like 4
    Dislike 10
  5. Good Move says:

    This is a good move but unfortunately BVI people prefer the lawless behavior once they benefitting from it. Once money sharing that is it good luck with that.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  6. Resident says:

    their are too many dirty cops on the force for a sensible person to trust them with their life

  7. LILLIAN says:

    WELL SAH YES NOW LOCALS GOT READY TO READ ALL CONVERSATIONS LOL THAT WAS STUPED FROM THE COMISSIONER TO PUT THE NUMBER PUBLIC HAHAHAHAH NO ONE WILL RISK LIFE AND FAMILIES LIFE FOR TALKING THE TRUTH AT ALL!! THAT WAS DUMB TO DO OR SAY HAHAHAA. MR. COLLINS YOU NEED TO USE ANOTHER STRATEGEDY HAHAHA THATS TO OLD ! PEOPLE DOESNT WANT TO GET KILL FOR TALKING LOL!

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  8. ... says:

    SMH at ALL the negative comments. Let People think for themselves without some lame unscrupulous theory.

  9. Sheila says:

    Few persons will call: precisely because they do not trust the police or care to.

  10. Vigilante Observer says:

    Dear Top Cop,

    Too many police officers violate the law for people to take them seriously. Even little things such as talking on cell phones will driving and other traffic violations, people see this and have a right to wonder why they should follow the laws if the police don’t do it.

    All you officers that know it is you that I speak of, do the RVIPF a favor and resign. Get a job on a construction site, you do not deserve to wear the uniform.

    And to you officers that like to cook up accusations and false charges, go get a job at Crystals. You don’t deserve to wear the uniform either.

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