UK-funded security advisor to boost BVI’s safety strategy
Governor Daniel Pruce
Governor Daniel Pruce has announced that the United Kingdom (UK) will fund a new senior security advisor to strengthen the BVI’s national security planning and coordination.
Speaking at a press conference this week, Pruce said the advisor will be “a security professional with a lot of experience, who can provide expert guidance and support on all matters related to the safety and security of the Virgin Islands.”
The position will be fully funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is expected to be filled early next year, he told reporters.
The move follows commitments made during September’s Anti-Crime Summit, which highlighted increasing levels of serious crime.
“Robbery from January to September of this year has increased by 58% compared to the same period last year,” Pruce revealed, adding that “when you make the comparison with the five-year average, the increase is 131%.” He also reported that 18 firearms and more than 1,100 rounds of ammunition had been recovered by police during that period.
The Governor said the new advisor will support efforts to develop a comprehensive security strategy for the Territory. “This will be an important complement to the anti-crime strategy,” he said, noting that it would “help foster greater coherence between the various agencies involved.”
He also outlined several other commitments made at the summit, including the creation of a community advisory group for the National Security Council, improvements to the police radio communications network, and plans to install a coastal radar system to enhance maritime surveillance.
“The Joint Maritime Security Centre has already installed similar radar systems in Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Pruce said. “We will see how those two systems work in practice… to help inform the installation of a similar system in the Virgin Islands, which I expect to happen next year.”
Pruce added that an external investigation had been commissioned, with UK Ministry of Justice support, into the recent prison break involving two inmates. “That will be an important part of the follow-up process to this incident,” he said.
He acknowledged that rising crime had fuelled concern among residents but insisted that local law enforcement agencies were “working hard to achieve security and safety for everyone in the Virgin Islands.”
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
There needs to be more armed police on the ground, patrolling 24hours because the robbers and the gun men are fully armed. Continue with the stop and search as well!
Disagree with this colonial move. Governor full of sh**.
The Governor can only work with the teams that he has.
When you brother, sister, son or daughter gets hit by a stray bullet you will demand for justice..stop complaining and face the facts.
BVI IS OUT OF CONTROL!
They are laying the security frameworks for take over, and the people will see and live it say or do nothing. The same reason Ms. Vanterpool was not appointed.
What is your evidence?
BVIslanders need to boost BVI safety not no criminal from the UK.
Just hire benito Wheatley. He’s doing all the advising for the bvi. He speaks for all us it seems
Jackie has failed and we all know that!!
we need real cops, not these jokers who don’t do foot patrols and are hardly seen outside the station
See the evil of those people. They refuse a squeaky clean person just to give the job to one of their own, as was expected, with questionable past criminal indulgences.
If the people don’t see through this and ask for justice, then they are no people at all.
And, the crookedness will continue. from high places.
Not reporting crime or criminal activity at any level. Not cooperating with no pig police. Not attending any oink police functions. Need to match on this BVI people and rxpat Belongers and Residence ain’t marching either. Gov too criminal and coward.
It states that this position is “being funded” by the UK. It would be interesting to clarify what the qualifications for this role are. Or is this another instance where the Governor will appoint someone from the UK to serve as his deputy — effectively acting in a supervisory capacity over local affairs?