Should the police carry firearms in BVI?
Deputy Premier Lorna Smith said though the community is worried about the rise in crime and violence, the decision to allow all police officers to carry and use firearms must be carefully considered.
Ordinarily, only officers attached to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force’s armed response unit carry firearms. But with the recent spate of serious crimes in the community, some residents have called for stronger security measures, including allowing the police to carry guns to combat criminals.
But Minister Smith said such a move could have negative implications.
“There have been discussions about arming the police. I’m of two minds on that because it could end up in a shoot-out and they shoot the wrong person,” Smith explained. “But I do think for some police – there has to be a degree of arming of our police force.”
Though firearms are normal for security forces in some Caribbean countries, it is not a cultural practice in the BVI – which is considered one of the safest countries in the region.
In the meantime, Smith showed support for the protestors who marched on the Governor’s Office earlier this week, saying residents should continue to “keep up the pressure on the government to do what needs to be done to make sure the police are more visible.”
She also called for increased penalties for persons who are held with firearms as she recalled a video that was circulated in local social media circles, which showed persons wielding high-powered weapons.
“The penalties for gun crime or even having a gun – it should be stepped up in terms of the amounts and it should be immediate. We all know how the law works, everybody is innocent until proven guilty. But when I saw those guns in those people’s hands, that wasn’t innocent until proven guilty, I knew what I saw and there should be immediate penalities for such actions,” Smith stated.
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In my opinion, the police should carry weapons, but only when necessary and not all the time. Being a police officer involves protecting lives. Every day, they risk their own to defend communities against criminal attacks. Since these incidents are becoming more frequent, arming police officers would be helpful in acting as:
Deterrent – routinely arming police officers will act as a deterrent to criminal behaviour especially in high-frequent areas such as banks, schools and tourist areas
Perception, reassurance and safety- communities feel safer when armed officers are present, especially in light of the recent rise in criminal activity.
Protection – routinely arming police officers will allow them some sort of protection in defending themselves in high-crime situations.
Nonetheless, there are issues with regularly equipping police personnel since there is a chance that they would use excessive force, which increases the danger of harm to both people and cops. Furthermore, the mere sight of guns in a conflict can increase hostilities and spark needless bloodshed. Communities may be less willing to collaborate with law enforcement due to their fear and anxiety about armed police, which could impede investigations and reduce overall community safety. The presence of armed police officers in a town should, in my opinion, reassure the populace that there is some measure of security in place to keep them safe.
But don’t be duped into thinking that arming police officers will solve all crimes; stricter gun laws can also help reduce the high crime rate but if arming officers is to be considered, careful consideration must be given to the high cost of arming a police force as well as the level of training and responsibility that goes along with it. Not every police officer is qualified to carry a weapon. To make sure that police officers are prepared to manage stressful circumstances without using excessive force, they must receive the right training and instruction on the use, handling, and safety of firearms. Furthermore, carrying a firearm carries a lot of responsibility, and police personnel should be held responsible for any abuse or misuse of their firearms.
It is worth noting that there are many larger countries committed to keeping police forces unarmed and their crime rate is not as high as ours.
These politicians are not honest. Listening to the Minister, their is no real passion in making minimum wage a reality..She should get the report by March, then she wants have conversation with she shipping agency. Shouldn’t the report cover all of that?.Just another trick to delay.. So if we Get minimum wage increase by or before Jan 2025 we are lucky
@pay attention you couldnt have picked a better name as a blogger because you surely not paying attention to the topic ,this is about security issues not wages or shipping we have some dam lazy good for nothing young men here that just intent to thief,murder and sell drugs thats the facts and we need the force to arm in the case they meet these babdits in the act.
Talking about gun crimes and the seemingly unstoppable influx of guns in the territory amount to nothing. When gun crimes are in progress and the police is called what are they supposed to respond with, “a flash light and a batton”. You don’t take a stick to a gun fight. Perood. Yes policemen should be armed. Business people and law abiding citizes should be able to get gum permits if they so desire. We are at the mercy of these armed thugs, like sitting ducks waiting to be shot. The penalty for having illegal weapons is a joke. So, if the criminals are not going to be dealt with seriously, then take the safety of law abiding citizens seriously, and issue gun permits so that we can protect ourselves businesses and homes. Criminals get a pat on their backs and continue to vandalize, intimidate and victimize the commumity. We the people of these beautiful islannds need to feel safe and secure in our homes. Visitors need a sense of safety and security when visiting our shores. To the new governor (I don’t know his name) please make SAFETY and SECURITY in the territory a top priority. Thank you.
And then when a local business person uses their permit authorized gun you think you don’t still be charged? No defence for it being legally possessed if you use it you face the same charges in court as the criminals!
800 armed police were at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade! They couldn’t stop one man from going on a shooting spree and shooting 20 plus people. Arming immature, emotionally unstable constables will not positively impact our already very low crime rate. Allow business owners to get licenses after strict processes to protect their businesses and homes though!
Comparing BVI to the USA where open carry is a thing in many states. Also a large amount of civilians in the USA have guns so the likelihood of someone using a gun for a crime is way more likely.
just my opinion, all police officers should carry a firearm whilst on duty and off duty. The firearm should be assigned to the officer carrying the weapon as part of His/Her identity. They should be trained and recertified every 12 months on the firing range. Remember that once your’e a law enforcement officer there are no days off they up hold the law 24/7. We try to control them because of fear and abuse by giving them a taser or baton that can’t do jack shit!! Simply put, Policy and regulations needed to be implemented in the use of the firearm by the governor and Chief of Police.
MY GOODNESS IMAGINE OTIS LARTIN AND GLEN LARWOOD WITH GUNS ON THEIR SIDE WHAT A MESSY SITUATION.
So how is it that they are calling for a ban on blogging across all News Site in the BVI? This is the best option for persons to speak their opinions and minds openly. Thank you Editor and personnels at BVInews.com for understanding the plight of the people of the Virgin Islands. Well done. Thank you! XX
Yes all patrolling police should carry firearms and should be trained to use them.
As long as civilians have guns and can use guns on other civilians the people of BVI won’t feel safe. Guns aren’t the end all solution but if one person has a gun and a police officer doesn’t how would the cop stop said person from committing the crime. Police officers have been killed on the island and maybe if they had better protection they’d have better protection in said scenarios. I’d also like to add that giving guns to police is like a double edge sword as you wouldn’t want police to do wrongful shootings. So I suggest that training be a key part in deciding who is allowed to carry on when to use or brandish a gun during a crime.
Yes arm the business people we need settler colonial violence like Palestine.
Some , not all.
Yet you have your people marching the streets demanding the police be on foot patrols – without being armed. suppose an officer get shot while he tries to stop a burglary in progress. the guy was right on the road with his gun in the Alladin’s robbery. which police must go and sacrifice his life unarmed there? people love to talk but 90% does just talk s**t.
More police officers need to be armed. You do not need to arm everyone but arming just a few is no deterrent to crime. The thieves know they are very unlikely to be shot and are going to step up their robbery attempts. The fact of the matter is that there is no police patrol in a systematic way in the capital. There are a few police at the station and they sit and wait until a call comes in then they grudginly leaves the station to investigate. There needs to be systematic policing of the business district. The thieves are going to get brazen enough to go hold up one of these banks because they know that it is very likely they will get away with it just as it was with Alladin. There needs to be more stop and search on a daily basis. Every day the police should have a stop and search on one of the main feeder roads. They needs to get to work to let us know they really want to protect us. Usually after one of these robberies you see the police out for a week or two then its back to square one sitting in at the station. you need to guard the station yes, but you need to police the streets.
All over the world they do
Why is here different?
Aresounding no! No to armed police.
Yes, the demographics have changed. There are more of every kind oof people and mentalities in the country, but the police gun totting issue is not a need at this historic juncture and time..
Such a move will only add to more corruption of a deadlier kind.
The status quo must be maintained.
Them island man police don’t need no guns they knows who’s shooting people around here is there friends and family putting in work around here that why they joined the police focus
Import some Trinidad police
Them would’ve dealt with the robbers at Main Street well
They was coming out in bags
you ain’t lying. trini police don’t play.
The Deputy Premier is right, arming the police may not be the correct way forward, there are other options.
To the best of this writer’s knowledge, effective 2021 the sentence in the UK for illegal possession of a firearm is 10 years imprisonment. The BVI should introduce the same legislation after an armistice period for people to surrender weapons in voluntarily.
It would be a mistake to over react to the recent armed robbery, the issue was not that police were unarmed, the real issue is the police were not around in the first place. Routine road blocks and stop & search activities have proved successful in many countries, perhaps we should look and learn moving forward.
…the issue was not that police were unarmed, the real issue is the police were not around in the first place.
What would these foot patrolling unarmed officers do to a young trigger finger buck? How many gun crimes? How many killers on the streets.
Man it is the community that upholds the law 24/7. locals did it before there were paved roads and police in vehicles.
Why should police carry fire arms when citizens cant even walk with a stick for protection by law and the police are never in the areas where people go to enjoy island life. We have no balance.
Everyone is expected to be vulnerable except an officer.
Normal people cant even legally carry a tazer or pepper spray it is ridiculous. There are a lot of self defense options to be explored before arriving at a gun.
To me it is a conspiracy why there is not a non-lethal incapacitating tool in widespread use besides a taser which has limited range. Gun makers are making a killing and systematically immune from lawsuits.
I think police should carry weapons modern conventional weapons, and wear armor but reserve the fire arms and machine guns to special units.
There are enough officers to cover and keep watch on situations including beaches, parks, shopping centers, main roads, bars until one of multiple & area specific armed unit arrives.
The police are too separate from society by design & the majority being visitors does not help. Legalize weed let them mix with and protect everyone.
Sorry but trinidad police have their names tarnished way worse than our past premeir. They’ve been involved in rape, organized prostitution and a lot more apparently.
At police never around….The UK police also.
Ayo remember when a police went in and shot the chief of police in he leg or sumethen. Yea really good idea giving the basic idiots guns hahaha wow