RVIPF not satisfied with conditions of stations
The Road Town Police Station, according to Mr. Morris, has leaking roofs. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Commissioner of Police David Morris has said he is not satisfied with certain conditions that ranks have to function under particularly the state of some of the police stations.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference at Police Headquarters on Wednesday September 28, 2011, Mr. Morris said officers at the Road Town Police Station, which is overcrowded, has to deal with leaking roofs. He said ranks at the Anegada Police Station have to contend with flooding every time it rains.
“You ask people to deliver a good service you got to give them good conditions to work in. You look at Road Town… every day we are trying to patch it up and keep it running…The conditions of our police station is very very poor and we try our best to keep it going for our officers and particularly those officers that stay overnight in the barracks and places like that….certainly the conditions that our officers work under are very poor and need to be improved,” Mr. Morris stated.
The Deputy Commissioner also said that the force needed proper vehicles. “They need to be improved and replaced every two years because they are used 24/7. They are not used for an hour or so and parked up. Our patrol vehicles are continually used and they take a lot of work and on average should be replaced probably once every two years.
Deputy Commissioner of Police David Morris is dissatisfied with certain working conditions within the RVIPF. Photo: Reuben Stoby/VINO
Meanwhile, the second in command at the RVIPF said the force was also addressing the need for upgraded equipment and uniform, which he said is being reviewed to suit the climate and the type of work that the officers are required to do.
“They need to be more operationally compatible for the work that we are asking the officers to do now in terms of jumping out of jeeps, working in the villages and townships and bush areas so we need to refocus around that.”
Meanwhile, the RVIPF said all officers are issued with bullet proof vests but are not mandated to wear them, however, it is strongly encouraged that officers wear them when conducting night duties.
The force is also looking to change from the normal handcuffs to quick cuffs and has been training the officers in the use of pepper sprays and is now looking to have them issued to officers. “We want to bring in tasers into the territory in terms of a less lethal option plus better radios.”
Mr. Morris said that while compared to other countries, the Virgin Islands boasts a low crime rate and was one of the most safe and secure places to live, however, the RVIPF was not going to be complacent in the face of crime.
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While on the subject of police station I personally think that policemen should live at the barrat for one year only and not 20 years plus I am refferring to Road Town in especially.
please
Good to hear you say that and recognized the poor condition under which officers have to perform their duty, but when you turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to officers rights, freedom and personal feelings, that is even more dangerous and insulting than the poor condition under which they work.
Tis every time election come round them going pull some mess. You all check them history. Geez man
it was ok for the locals police officers, but now that they have white UK officers suddenly the conditions are bad…the RVIPF is like south Africa…Apartheid
JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE, SUDDENLY THE CONDITIONS ARE BAD, JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE PIGS, I MEAN PO PO, I REALLY MEAN TO SAY BABLYON, OH SORRY I MEAN POLICE!= DIFFRENT WORDS BUT HAVVE THE SEAM MEANING! LOVE POLICE, BUT CANT STAND A BABLYON, IF THE BVI HAVE 10 POLICE, 2 8 OF THE ARE 100% PIGS!
BIG UP THE REAL TURE POLICE!
I beg to move a motion, I call on the PSC to advise His Excellency the Governor pursuant to article 97(1) of the Virgin Island Constitution Order 2007 to remove the number 1 and 2 of the RVIPF. Why is the number 2 taking his dirty laundry outside?