BVI News

UK gives $1M for law enforcement review

The UK government has allocated approximately one million dollars to contribute towards a comprehensive review of the territory’s law enforcement agencies.

The funding comes amid a spike in various crimes, especially those gun-related, which law enforcers say are primarily due to the drug trade.

Governor John Rankin said members of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) arrived in BVI last weekend to begin the fieldwork phase of the review.

The study will look at the structure, resources, funding, conduct, and standards, among other matters of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Customs, Immigration and the Prison Service.

“The Attorney General’s Chambers, Director of Public Prosecution’s Office, Financial Investigation Authority and the courts (both Magistrates and High Courts) will also be considered as part of the review insofar as they relate to law enforcement,” the Governor’s Office said.

The team will also look at whether the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and other enforcement agencies have the facilities and powers to prevent, monitor and detect crime, and prepare matters for prosecution.

Governor John Rankin said: “I believe the outcome of this review will shape our approach to law enforcement over at least the next ten years. I aspire for BVI’s law enforcement agencies and the justice system to be seen as models for the region.”

Governor Rankin said the review will provide greater clarity on areas for improvement and recommendations into alternative ways of approaching law enforcement that would benefit the BVI.

The report is expected to be presented to the Premier and the incoming Governor by the end of March 2024. It will then be published as appropriate thereafter.

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24 Comments

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  1. Checkers says:

    My government does make 1,000,000 look like a Dollar Bill, when them start to spend money.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  2. Big thumbs up says:

    Great. And let’s implement in full their findings

    Like 12
  3. Whow!!! says:

    Law enforcement review? Meaning more bank account lining for the UK expats working here. And tey constantly pointing their corrupt finger at the BVI calling it corrupt. What hypocrisy!!

    Like 4
    Dislike 16
  4. HI WIGO / BLONDIE says:

    OR WHATEVER NAME U CHOOSE SEEING YOU HAVE SO MANY ( OPEN YOUR TRAP NOW , HOW MUCH HAVE YOU REPAID FOR ALL THE TAXPAYERS MONEY THAT YOU WERE ALLOWED TO SQUANDER YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HOA , WHENEVER YOU EGO GOT THE BETTER OF YOU , WHICH IS EVERYDAY

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  5. Inquiring minds says:

    Firstly 1M is no money for a proper investigation. Secondly, since law enforcement is under the Governor he should not be in any way connected to the persons carrying out the review. The fact that the governor was the one who announced it and there is no structure in place for the independence of this review then we all know that this will not be independent.
    Also, what are the terms of reference for this review? Does it include looking for corruption as was done under the subjects under our local leaders?

    Like 7
    Dislike 14
  6. @inquiring minds says:

    I wish I could like your post 100 times.

    Like 2
    Dislike 9
  7. WOW says:

    WHERE IS THE F**KING MONEY FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS? When the UK fund anything it’s always Prison and Police. This is so f**king shameful!

    Like 3
    Dislike 11
    • ? says:

      Schools and youth programs come under your government’s remit. Does that answer your question?

      Like 15
      • Taxation says:

        So UK allocates $1M for the review. Guess who is going to pay to implement the recommendations? That’s right. Bye bye tax payers General Fund. More than one way to skin a cat. I see what you are doing there.

        Like 1
        Dislike 2
    • @WOW says:

      Pity the UK tax payors paying 40% tax on their income. Isn’t it enough they pay for this? Why they paying for your schools? Maybe you could start paying 40% tax too or STFU?

      Like 10
      Dislike 2
      • lol says:

        40% tax can’t work here because when these fools being stupid with tax payer money and you know 40% of what you work for being taken from you to watch these man squander it and giving it to their friends and family in different ways and your child still got to go school in a building wha breaking down while they renting out fancy offices and traveling all over the world it’s going to be violence.

  8. Law & Order says:

    is the domain of the FCDO and all it’s representatives in the BVI so it’s fit and proper for the sitting Governor to announce and provide progress reports on law enforcement in the BVI.

  9. Just asking says:

    So when will they fund a new central station?

  10. Resident says:

    Very useful support from the UK, like the vaccines and the CoI. Thank you.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  11. HonestTruth says:

    All these guns on the island. Those anti gun laws are really effective aren’t they. Oh I forgot, criminals don’t register their firearms. In a similar way if we stopped making dried flowers illegal, we would eliminate a good chunk of the criminal element.

  12. 1 million says:

    $1,000,000 is a lot of CCT cameras. We know the problems, drug trade passing through BVI, border with the US where guns freely purchased, general lack of enforcement, small island mentality, i can write your report now. What we need are resources to prosecute and take the guns off the street. Plus an awful lot invested in the education system so that youth have a career path from primary school off the streets.

  13. Legalize cannabis says:

    Legalize cannabis already and watch crime drop it doesn’t work when it’s done too late! The first contact to career criminals is the search for weed world over. When alcohol was illegal in America it spawned many gangsters.

    Think about how different life in the UK would be if you had to go up an dark alley to get your first couple pints of beer instead of walking down to the pub at 16 and having a good safe time with fish n chips on the side.

  14. Shaking head says:

    So now the UK is once again paying to clean up BVI’s mess because they cannot do ANYTHING themselves! What a poor state of affairs this country is! Full of thieves from top to bottom all pretending to be looking out for the communities but instead just looking to steal from them! Belongers should be embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful that they are the problem in this country The shout is for “Independence” but the hands scrabble for dollars before the words have left their lips.

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  15. Hmmm says:

    You all aint reading and understanding. The review has nothing to do with investigating anybody. It has to do with the structure and meanwhile shifting blame from the COP to the system.

    Meanwhile, any criticism of him will be on hold. And the end result will be that the system needs the Police act in place.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  16. Sigh says:

    The schools breaking down, the roads falling apart, still have no incinerator for waste management, electricity and water distribution unreliable. Don’t get me wrong this is 100% our government’s fault for ignoring these matters but is there any chance of getting UK assistance with any of that as well? Crime rises when the quality of life in a place constantly declining. All our government seem to have money for is rent, new vehicles and plane tickets.

    • @ Sigh says:

      You think the UK has the funds to fix the BVI? Even if it did, why should it when local politicians keep banging the “I support self determination but not independence” pretend drum.

  17. Anonymous says:

    THE UK OWES THAT AND MUCH MORE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI. WH3N WILL IT BEGIN PAYING?

  18. @ WOW says:

    why don’t you ask our government THOSE QUESTIONS , if you and the WIG think the UK is going bto give us money to party with *.( free jam fest ) and put in ( our pockets) think again / we done RAID SOCIAL SECURITY OF 40 BIG ONES , WHERE IT WENT ❓️

  19. @ INQUIRING MINDS says:

    WHO ARE YOU TO TELL THE UK HOW TO OR WHAT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON ? AND YOU CAN LIKE A MILLION TIMES WHO CARES ABOUT YOU ? WHY DON’T YOU DIRECT YOUR ENERGY TO OUR GOVERNMENT WITH THOSE QUESTIONS

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