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More body cameras for RVIPF officers - SFC Report

- Force to procure equipment through UK funding & $18.5M budget
The cost of the body cameras will come via split funding with the UK paying half of the cost following a successful pilot project earlier in the year. Photo: Internet Source
According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews, the force has seen continued to decline of crime over the past year and detections continued to increase in the force. Photo: VINO/File
According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews, the force has seen continued to decline of crime over the past year and detections continued to increase in the force. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Come 2020, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) with Commissioner of Police Mr Michael B. Matthews at its helm, hopes to equip more police officers with body cameras.

This follows the successful testing of the initiative through a partnership with ‘Axon’, an international technology company to launch the pilot project in March 2019.

"The current budget listed for 2020 is $18,587,800 will provide the force with the opportunity of course with a range of initiatives and continued advancement of their capabilities as we continue our recovery," deliberations of the 2020 Standing Finance Committee on policing revealed.

Crime on Decline - CoP Matthews 

According to the Commissioner of Police, the force has seen continued decline of crime over the past year and detections continued to increase in the force.

"At the end of October, it was at 54% and at the same time...they had seen a 5% reduction in overall crime which was on the back of a 9% per cent reduction in the previous year..." the report noted.

He said the force will be increasing at a rate of 15 constables per year for 3 years, an initiative that started since 2018.

"We are on target to do that and await an additional $1,133,000 to be added to the budget for 15 growth posts in 2020 which will then bring the force number/statistics to 275 regular officers and 21 auxiliary officers," the commissioner revealed.

UK funding for cameras 

As part of the force's advancements, Cop Matthews indicated they are seeking new spends for essential equipment which includes 50 protective vests at $22,430 and $100,680 for body-worn cameras.

The cost of the body cameras will come via split funding with the UK paying half of the cost following a successful pilot project earlier in the year.

The 2020 SFC deliberations were held between November 20 and 29, 2019 at the Office of the House of Assembly in Road Town, Tortola.

7 Responses to “More body cameras for RVIPF officers - SFC Report”

  • peter tosh (31/12/2019, 16:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Britain traditionally only provides funding for prisons and the Police.
  • badboyz (31/12/2019, 17:04) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    We want them to worn when they are going on drug raids and also when counting confiscated money because we don't trust the police
    • Jacperlance (31/12/2019, 21:05) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
      @badboyz, they will be worn when you stop wear your mama bag drawers BB
  • My girl (31/12/2019, 17:05) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Make sure the camera on s**** c** always turned on, he like to abuse people on the road.
  • Laugh (31/12/2019, 19:25) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    I too sure them body cam ain't going look all that on the pic. And the police them going just feel as more big. Like they can walk over people like that
  • Go (01/01/2020, 11:48) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tortola needs real laws and serious police not a bunch of gossipers whenever a decision is taken in the senior management meeting . It posted vividly on whats app group chat. Some of the leaders chat too da** much. Oh lord 365 days of gossip. Merciless.
  • smh (02/01/2020, 12:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We don’t need video cameras. We need police officers that (can) enforce more than just traffic violations. We need our officers to be physically trained... in a gym... so they are fit... and can be agile and taken seriously. Cameras??? This is what the RVIPF feels is a priority right now???


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