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‘RVIPF needs external civilian review body’ – Doug Wheatley

Radio talk show host Douglas Wheatley believes an external civilian review board will go a long way in allowing the public to hold police officers accountable as questions continue to fly regarding alleged corruption in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Radio talk show host Douglas Wheatley believes an external civilian review board will go a long way in allowing the public to hold police officers accountable as questions continue to fly regarding alleged corruption in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Wheatley was speaking on his weekly show ‘Speak Out BVI’ last night September 2, 2014 on ZBVI 780AM at 8:00 pm.

“We cannot come to any conclusions with regard to what has happened as there are just allegations,” said Wheatley regarding the recently announced probe into the Police for allegations of corruption as a result of which a number of officers have been sent off the job and the Governor petitioned to convene an external investigation into the allegations.

“Those against whom allegations are made will have a chance to defend themselves whether in a court of law or otherwise,” he said. “We must be patient and bide our time and see what happens. If we speak about it we must be circumspect so we don’t say anything that would prejudice the situation,” Wheatley said.

He stressed that such situations are a good example of why a civilian review body would be useful for the Police.

“In the UK for example, there is a community investigatory body, a Board that looks at complaints against the Police by members of the public. That Committee is not just of Police officers but civilians. It is like a civilian review board that members of the public can go to and lodge complaints and see how well they are handled,” said Wheatley.

“We know that starting with the 2007 Constitution, the Police now has a Police Service Commission that has powers granted to it by the Constitution. Maybe we are not too far away from having external review board for the Police Force, so that it is not just a matter for the Police Service Commission, but there might be a citizen’s review board. It is something for us to think about,” he said.

17 Responses to “‘RVIPF needs external civilian review body’ – Doug Wheatley”

  • ... (03/09/2014, 15:15) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    Morris is part of the problem
    • LCS (03/09/2014, 16:00) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Why is that? Throw some light...
    • long look me come from (03/09/2014, 17:35) Like (5) Dislike (18) Reply
      dem need to offer the job to a local but not stoutt
    • @..... (03/09/2014, 23:22) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      I agree Morris should go. Morris calim an investigation is being doing into corruption, the investigator was liming with morris and his top ranks at mollygons having cocktails and discussing how they will not find no evidence against dem crooked cops what kind of investigation tha will be. the comissioner and his ranks are trying to istitute a cover up in this whole investigation.how now he it fit to hold press conferences out of no where he is media friendly. Tha man and his top brass knows of the doing of those officers. They have received plenty complaint and as top brass the are exposed to different form of seeking information. The streest have made numerous complaning agains dem police and nothing has done.
  • True (03/09/2014, 16:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I AGREE A external civilian review board would be a good idea
    officers or here for civilians we should have a say or else they will only cover for each other
  • Scooby Doo (03/09/2014, 16:18) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    These allegations of corruption have been there loooong before Mr. Morris. They will remain after he is gone.
  • UK polie and CORRUPTION (03/09/2014, 16:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/cayman-islands-police-said-to-be-covering-up-for-british-officials
    • george w touch (03/09/2014, 22:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is anyone surprised
    • wize up (04/09/2014, 05:00) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      we have a set of whites in this island dealing in dope but you never hear any of then arrested but our people sitting in the jail for months and months..has "no-ting" to do with race for all you dumb mofos out there...follow up on it and you will discover that a number of those white-boys with these salvage boats, dive boats and private charters have it going on, speaking about the dope trade....can you say police corruption, boy we have right here in the BVI not only in the cayman islands !!!!
  • BRAD BOYNES (04/09/2014, 00:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    NOT!!*!!
  • mother hen (04/09/2014, 01:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have lost our ability to do what is right for the BVI and in the RVIPF and are now dependent on a few UK officers
  • Not true (04/09/2014, 04:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What the police force needs is to be completely run by competent, well-trained non-BVIslanders who aren't going to turn a blind eye when little cousin Billy is holding up bars with a gun.
  • wize up (04/09/2014, 04:52) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    we are good at talking the bvi; stop talking and take action; the virgin islands is going "down hill"; we have gone from 2(TWO) "local" head of police to some half white man...we have gone BACK to having some white boy run the prison(a local man held that post)....he have gone "BACK" and must now seek permission from UK to borrow money(the BVI went from granting-aid back in the 70s but in 2014 "back" in the hands the UK)....the bvi is going backwards simply because of poooooor-leadership; as a little boy, i know the bv islander to be the boat builders, shop owners, the farmers the bv islanders were the kings/queens of these islands NOW we are the by-standers; that is so shameful!!!!
    • rainbow (04/09/2014, 12:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Wize Up. It is sad to read your comment. Perhaps you are blindly ignorant. If it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a duck. The same can be said of racism.
    • Outspoken (04/09/2014, 23:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well Mr. Wise up been local does not altimarely make you qualify to be a head of department, if it was so, I believe the BVI would have already gone deep under. There are times when you have to bring the expertise from elsewhere. The BVI is not operating in a vacuum, it is something that happen all over
  • Sccoby Doo (04/09/2014, 13:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Racist remarks ? The BVI? Wow!!! Talk about emancipation!!! No wonder as Wize up said " The Virgin Islands is going downhill
  • doug (04/09/2014, 23:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope to be part of that team, I am looking a job


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