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Unlawful sex with underage girls 'a worrying trend'- CoP Matthews

- says school children don't recognise seriousness of crime
Speaking of PSI Online Radio, Comissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews says the territory continues to see an increase in Unlawful Sexual Intercourse involving underage girls. Photo: VINO/File
Comissioner Michael B. Matthews was at the time speaking on the Tuesday, October 22, 2019, edition of 'A Moment of Truth' with Host Kenneth G. Gladstone on PSI Online Radio in the Virgin Islands (VI) where he mentioned that the territory, however, is not seeing significant reports of rape, incest or paedophilia cases. Photo: Facebook
Comissioner Michael B. Matthews was at the time speaking on the Tuesday, October 22, 2019, edition of 'A Moment of Truth' with Host Kenneth G. Gladstone on PSI Online Radio in the Virgin Islands (VI) where he mentioned that the territory, however, is not seeing significant reports of rape, incest or paedophilia cases. Photo: Facebook
In two recent cases, one involved a 15-year-old was arrested and charged on July 18, 2019, and was granted bail in the amount of $15,000 for having Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Girl under 13 years of age. Earlier on July 2, 2019, police arrested and charged another 21-year-old youth of Albion Estate, Tortola for the same offence with a girl under the age of 16 years. Photo: VINO/File
In two recent cases, one involved a 15-year-old was arrested and charged on July 18, 2019, and was granted bail in the amount of $15,000 for having Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Girl under 13 years of age. Earlier on July 2, 2019, police arrested and charged another 21-year-old youth of Albion Estate, Tortola for the same offence with a girl under the age of 16 years. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - While the Virgin Islands (VI) has seen an overall reduction of recorded sexual offences over the past months, Commissioner of Police Mr Michael B. Matthews says the territory continues to see an increase in Unlawful Sexual Intercourse involving underage girls in particular.

The Commissioner was at the time speaking on the Tuesday, October 22, 2019, edition of 'A Moment of Truth' with Host Kenneth G. Gladstone on PSI Online Radio in the Virgin Islands (VI) where he mentioned that the territory; however, is not seeing significant reports of rape, incest or paedophilia cases.

Worrying Trend 

"What we have seen, and this is a worrying trend for me... we have had to deal with regrettably, with what is officially titled Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, where we've had underagenormally the female is underageand sometimes the offender is also under the legal age as well," he said.

The top cop continued, "We're basically dealing with school children... these young children don't appreciate the seriousness of the problem they are getting themselves into."

Unlawful sexual intercourse, commonly referred to as statutory rape or sex with a minor, is sexual intercourse with a person who is under the age of eighteen. 

Mr Matthews said that to get a conviction at age 16 for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old for example, that conviction can remain on a person's records for years in the future and affect their prospects in several areas.

"We all understand, anyone listening to this... we all experimented as kids, none of us can say we are innocent," he said, while noting that laws are there to protect the 'young innocent future' of the territory.

More education needed - CoP Matthews 

"My appeal really on this is for parents, in particular... need to educate their own children more about the dangers that are involved and of course the spread of disease and unwanted pregnancies and all of the other circumstances and the impact upon our health system that these things can have," he said.

The commissioner noted that with the cases comes psychological trauma on immature minds, which can have severe effects.

"This has occurred on more than one occasion in recent months and being brought to the attention of the police. I'm hoping it's not going to become a trend... that people just sort of shut their eyes to and say, oh well, that's always happened."

He said to directly address the issue, the territory needs to works on ways to educate its youths better regarding social issues as the force is not in support of putting youths through the court system unless it is absolutely necessary. 

In two recent cases, one involved a 15-year-old who was arrested and charged on July 18, 2019, and was granted bail in the amount of $15,000 for having Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Girl under 13 years of age.

On July 2, 2019, police arrested and charged another 21-year-old youth of Albion Estate, Tortola for the same offence with a girl under the age of 16 years.

23 Responses to “Unlawful sex with underage girls 'a worrying trend'- CoP Matthews”

  • Ahemmm (28/10/2019, 09:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not exactly a new trend, if you haven't noticed. Nasty, disrespectful behavior. Then the girl gets pregnant and is not allowed to go to school.
    • @Ahemmm (28/10/2019, 09:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Once an under age girl get pregnant the child father must be held responsible... Can't get better evidence than that.
      • Ahemmm (29/10/2019, 07:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I agree but what does that mean when the father is 15? Even 21? Plenty of single mothers raising children on their own around here because father is not interested. Man gets 20 minutes of jig jig pleasure and disappears, woman gets life time of responsibility is what happens around here. But, yeah, father ought to be held responsible.
  • ccc (28/10/2019, 09:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow
  • Parents Are the Teachers (28/10/2019, 09:42) Like (9) Dislike (8) Reply
    These kids are simply doing what there parents are doing. Its part of the culture. Sex out of wedlock. Kids from multiple mothers and multiple fathers. Nothing new here.
  • Jack B. (28/10/2019, 09:51) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    The truth is most 13 yr old are more knowledgeable and more intelligent than their Moms...So they to have to make better decisions.... The law is the law but we can't ignore the reality...
  • Really (28/10/2019, 11:55) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Are we really defending that kids having sex at such a young age, what is wrong with you people?
  • shrugs (28/10/2019, 11:56) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    its in their culture, old man lookin young girl and young girl wan big man!
  • Dutty man (28/10/2019, 12:32) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    DUTTY MAN leave the people Pinckney the alone!It a shame man it’s a disgrace Man
    • Hmm (28/10/2019, 16:14) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
      not justifying the men eh but when are we goin to hold these lil hot tail forced ripe girls accountable for themselves??? I've witnessed this too many a time, they were rampant festival time flaunting themselves as adults with the intention, and not to mention being the aggressor to men/boys older than them. there is 2 sides to a coin.
      • Ugh (29/10/2019, 08:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        What a disgusting comment. A child is still a child no matter how she is dressed. It’s the adult’s job to be responsible and no one else’s. The fact that the girl was wearing a short skirt and makeup is not going to keep you out of prison.
      • Yuck! (29/10/2019, 11:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        You sound very disgusting. I myself am a modest woman but let’s not pretend that the VI and Caribbean don’t have a problem with how men treat women and young girls. Perhaps parents should do better to teach their kids that some people will get the wrong opinion of them based on how they dress. That, however, does not excuse any sort of inappropriate behaviour. No one is entitled to another person’s body. Adults should know better and respect the law. If you are an adult and you know a person is underage, leave them alone. It’s sickening to see grown people with the mentality you expouse.

        On another note:

        When I was in high school, grown men would hang out around the area and wait for lunch and after school to talk to young girls. A few of my classmates had boyfriends who were years older than him. From that experience I think three things should happen:

        1) Strict anti-loitering policies in school zones, especially for adults.

        2) Possibly a transparent registry of business owners with businesses in near proximity to schools. As well as possibly a strict code of conduct as to how businesses should interact children during school hours. (Make sure that businesses aren’t encouraging truancy or facilitating inappropriate meet ups).

        3) A mandatory investigation protocol whenever a minor is treated at any hospital or clinic in the Virgin Islands and is suspected to be pregnant, sexually active or sexually abused. The age of consent is 16. Yes, some children are fast and rush into things they should wait for but we as a society need to stop turning a blind eye to reality. If a 14 year old turns up pregnant, she doesn’t have the right to give consent so why is she pregnant? Who is the father? Where were her parents?
  • 911 (28/10/2019, 13:13) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    CUT OFF THEM BALLS
  • Observer (28/10/2019, 16:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a good conversation hapennig here, this is a real issue. Imagine how much go unreported.
  • Baby jesus (28/10/2019, 17:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How old my mother was when she had me?
    • Read your bible (29/10/2019, 10:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      She didn't have to raise her son alone, as a single mother.
  • lisa (28/10/2019, 18:01) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    only vincy people doing this crap
    • @Lisa (28/10/2019, 18:53) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      You stop ur nonesense now. BVIslander does it to. Everything is Island people for you all.
    • @ Lisa (28/10/2019, 18:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You remember the amount of inc--t that used to happen here in the VI. Think about it.
  • Perv (29/10/2019, 12:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it's a niece, nephew or cousin it's seems OK in the BVI
  • Advice (30/10/2019, 12:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Matthew you might have to talk to the principal of the school those youngsters attend and organize sessions where some of your officers can go to the school or schools to give talks on the seriousness and dangers of underage sex especially where their future is concerned,. If the parents of youngsters involved are known you need to have a private session with them,, Let them know the seriousness, and give them guidance on how to talk with their youngsters on this topic.
  • ndp (31/10/2019, 09:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Need stiff penalties and have these nasty men registered as sex offenders. Government going wait until some crazed father take the law into his hands and kill a perp.

    Just my two cents.


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