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More senior police officers needed at public events – residents

-RVIPF claims public responded favourably to presence at Festival activities
In the wake of the many fights and disorderly behaviour exhibited by some patrons at the recently concluded 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival activities, a call has been made for the presence of more senior officers at such public events. Photo: VINO
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) claimed that members of the public responded positively to the police presence at the festival activities. Photo: VINO/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) claimed that members of the public responded positively to the police presence at the festival activities. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - In the wake of the many fights and disorderly behaviour exhibited by some patrons at the recently concluded 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival activities, a call has been made for the presence of more senior officers at such public events.

Ms S. Callwood, a resident of Carrot Bay, said she attended several of the Festival activities which were held across the territory. "I made the observation that there is a need for more senior officers to guide these junior ranks who are placed at these events," the concerned resident told Virgin Islands News Online.

This opinion was supported by at least three others who were with Ms Callwood at the time of her speaking with this news site.

The view was also expressed that the more junior officers were not forceful enough when left alone. "I look at how they operated when there were fights especially at the festival ground in Road Town," she continued, "If you could remember one of the nights there was something happening at one end of the ground and there were some officers on the other side. The MC had to literally like beg them to go and deal with the issue, he was shouting several times on the open mic telling them to go and deal with the situation before they crawl like snails to go and deal with the situation," Ms Callwood alleged.

The woman said she was present when a fight broke out following Saturday's Official Festival Last Lap show in Carrot Bay. "This is a typical example; one of the guys who was involved in a fight was standing there carrying on with he face streaming with blood and I was so upset the officers didn't even take the man into custody or to go get him medical attention and for him to assist in the investigation to have those involved be brought to justice," said Ms Callwood.

She issued a call for the Commissioner of Police to have  “upgrading training” for junior officers to deal with disorderly behaviours at public events.

Contacted on the issue, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) responded with a press release claiming that members of the public had responded positively to the police presence at the festival activities.

It said such sentiments were expressed to police officers by persons attending events in the three festival villages, rise and shine tramps, August Tuesday Horse Races and other events to mark this year’s celebration.

Six arrests made

According to the press release, while the RVIPF has on record ten altercations in or around the Festival events during the two weeks, there were likely a number of additional skirmishes that went unreported. “A total of six persons were arrested in relation to these matters and files are before the DPP’s office in relation to four of those six. Another three were brought into police stations, cautioned and warned about their behaviour and discharged.”

Superintendent of Operations St. Clair Amory, according to the press release, explained that the task to keep the balance of high visibility at Festival events which usually run well into the morning hours and at the same time provide coverage around businesses in town day and night is always a difficult one but that balance was achieved this year.

“Some officers gave up regular investigative duties while others extended their normal working hours to provide the needed policing cover for this year’s events with no extra compensation. Senior officers were also at these events and provided the necessary station coverage where needed. There was a general willingness to commit to the task by the officers and for that I would like to commend the officers and thank them for their dedication to keeping the festival safe,” he said.

The Superintendent also expressed his appreciation to the security firms contracted to cover the various events which helped to ensure safer environments and the VI Festival Committee for involving the RVIPF in its plans for this year’s events, according to the press release.

7 Responses to “More senior police officers needed at public events – residents”

  • ABC (13/08/2013, 14:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    POLICE HEAR TIS AH JOKE
  • Fed-up! (13/08/2013, 14:50) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    A Show of force at any event here in the bvi is looked down upon by members of the public and senior police because this is what we want here. We want police to speak to us pleasantly even when we refuse lawful instructions and not to put their hands on us when we are being arrested. We must be allowed to sit in the jeep without handcuffs and and do and say what we want. What happen to carrying long batons and the presence of task force officers at these events. It's a show of force ppl. I'm glad I'm not a cop because you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't. I will pray for our police!
  • eing tom (13/08/2013, 15:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    where are the UK officers they all still at the bars getting drunk
  • to much drunk (13/08/2013, 20:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its the rum stupid!!!
  • bb (14/08/2013, 08:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is pure nonsense, year after year is the same thing, they have alot of UK officers, when it comes to festival put them in uniform let they come and work, this is crap man, u don't see them at parades, u don't see them at no function, they are police officers and they are being paid double to what the local officers are being paid, let them come out and work, we need the man power around that time, they up and down in plain clothes even if the post they hold is a uniform post, they refuse to put on uniform and no one tells them nothing, this foolishness needs to stop man, mr alwyn james, order the officers who suppose to be in inform to put on their uniform and when these big events comes around detail them for duty.
  • kkk (14/08/2013, 18:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    His boundy the governor appointed Morris while they force the local cops to retire ayo tek that…racism 101


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