Premier Updates House on Government’s Crime-Fighting Plans

~~Adz:Left~~ ROADTOWN, Tortola-Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE announced today that Government is moving ahead with its plans to recruit seven former United Kingdom (UK) officers to help strengthen the Territory’s crime-fighting capability.

The Premier revealed today that Commissioner of Police Mr. Reynell Frazer is currently in the UK conducting interviews for the recruitment.

He made the comments during the Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, while responding to a question posed by Opposition Leader, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith on what is being done about rising crime in the community.

The Premier said once recruited, the UK officers will “undertake a range of training and mentoring initiatives to share their experience and skills with the force.”

According to the Premier, the officers will be deployed specifically to “develop techniques to improve investigation and intelligence gathering. This will include areas such as crime scene management and covert policing techniques.”

The Premier also revealed that the recruited officers will assist in the investigation of “outstanding murders and provide specialist advice as we seek to tackle areas of other serious crime such as armed robberies and burglaries.”

In addressing the concerns about rising crime, the Premier said Government is reinforcing its zero tolerance policy for violent crime. He acknowledged that a multi-sectoral approach is needed and called for the involvement of service organisations, members of the clergy and the engaging of young people in positive activity to reduce their susceptibility to criminal elements.

In its attempts to reduce the incidence of crime, Government is also building links to the Territory’s youth. Its commitment to doing so is exemplified in the decision to form a Cadet Corp to strengthen the relationship between the youth and the police force and hopefully inspire some of them to choose policing as a career.

At today’s sitting of the House, the Premier moved a motion for the second and third reading of a bill entitled “Virgin Islands Cadet Corps Act, 2008”. The act among other things provides for the establishment of the Cadet Corps.

The Cadet Corps and the recruitment of the UK officers are among the strategies employed by Government as it adopts a multi-sectoral approach to curbing the incidence of crime. Other proposals are the creation of neighbourhood watches, developing more visibility for police officers in the community and the publication of crime prevention tips to help residents and business owners take measures to reduce their vulnerability to crime.

The House of Assembly is comprised of elected members from the various electoral districts and meets regularly to discuss issues relevant to the electorate.  The House of Assembly is responsible for passing laws and scrutinising the policies of Government.