Governor Daniel Pruce has said that important initiatives like the Community Policing Training and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERT) provide the VI with the opportunity to share experiences across several territories facing similar challenges. Photo: Facebook

Some of the police officers who completed the recent Community Policing Training and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. Photo: Facebook

Community Policing has been an initiative of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force geared at combatting criminal activity. Photo: RVIPF

His remarks came during the closing ceremony for the trainings held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the New Life Baptist Church, where eighty-six officers received their certificates. Seventy-four officers completed the Community Policing Training, while twelve officers completed the ALERT program.

"I would like to congratulate you all on your achievements. Whichever course you attended, you are graduating as a response to and tribute to your hard work, dedication and commitment to get to this stage," Governor Pruce stated. 

He added that, as the governor of the Virgin Islands, he has a constitutional responsibility for security, with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) being at the centre of his responsibility. Therefore, he has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve in this area, working closely with his colleagues across the government and the leadership of the police force.

A successful RVIPF

The governor emphasised his desire for the RVIPF to be as successful as possible.

"It should be properly resourced, highly professional, and conduct its work with the highest standards of integrity. This approach is essential for building the trust and confidence of everyone in the Virgin Islands.’’

The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training was conducted in conjunction with the Royal Anguilla Police Force and the Royal Montserrat Police Force.

The governor further stated that, "The role that all members of all the forces represented here today played, such as community police officers building the trust and confidence of the community, the armed officers who run towards danger responding to emergency incidents, what both groups do is absolutely pivotal to security across all our islands.’’

He further emphasised that the Virgin Islands face challenges such as youth crime, violence, burglary, and the influence of organised criminal gangs; however, these challenges are not unique to the Virgin Islands alone.

Essential skills provided

The training provided essential skills to officers, such as conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, public engagement, advanced principles of community policing, community-oriented policing, and leadership. 

"Thankfully, the emphasis placed on targeting younger people, especially younger boys, is not unique to our islands, sadly, but it is really important initiatives like this give us the chance to share experience across a number of territories where we have shared challenges to learn from each other as well,’’ Pruce added.

The governor further stated, "I believe very much that achieving security for all of our territories is rooted in partnerships with the community. I believe very much that when law enforcement agencies and citizens work together, we can achieve real and lasting outcomes, building those partnerships as we heard just now is very much at the centre of tackling crime and building safer and more stable societies.’’