Vetting of police still ongoing

Governor Daniel Pruce has confirmed that the vetting of officers within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) remains incomplete, with the process still open and officers continuing to submit documentation.

Addressing the issue during a press conference this week, Pruce said the vetting exercise forms part of the outstanding security-related recommendations flowing from the Commission of Inquiry.

“As you’ll recall, one of the key recommendations from Sir Gary Hickenbottom was the vetting of the police and the vetting of the prison, immigration, and customs services,” Pruce stated.

He explained that while progress has been made, the police vetting process has not yet concluded.

“The situation concerning vetting of police, one that we’ve discussed previously here, that process is still open. Officers are still able to submit their paperwork. We have the vetting team established,” Pruce said.

The Governor also confirmed that a legal challenge has been filed regarding the exercise.

“There is also a case before the courts, which has been brought by colleagues within the Police Welfare Association. That’s a matter for the courts, not for me to comment upon,” he stated.

Pruce made clear that completion of the police vetting remains a directive action under the Commission of Inquiry reforms. “But, of course, the COI action directed to me, which is to complete the vetting of the police, obviously will remain pending until we’ve got to that point,” he said.

He added that achieving a fully vetted force remains a central objective of his security agenda.

Vetting for prison, customs, and immigration

Turning to other law enforcement agencies, the Governor said the police were prioritised in the first phase of vetting, with prison, customs and immigration to follow.

“Concerning the other agencies, such as the prison, customs, and immigration, as we’ve discussed previously, our first priority was on the police. Those other three were going to come in a second pass,” he said.

He indicated that preparatory work is now underway to allow that second phase to proceed.

“We’re at the point, I think, of putting in place those fundamental agreements between the different partners to ensure that that process can proceed. And I’m optimistic that in the coming weeks we’ll be able to have those final agreements agreed so that we can then get the vetting of prison officers, immigration officers, and customs officers underway,” Pruce stated.