The recently launched community policing initiative by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is expected to enhance officers’ understanding of the respective communities across the territory.
This was the sentiments shared by Constable John of the Road Town Police Station recently, following the announcement of the 16 officers who have been assigned to various communities across the nine districts.
He said, “The idea of community policing is to serve you the people of the BVI in our communities better, to provide a service better. And one of the aspects of this new initiative is for us to communicate, for us to represent, for us to listen to you and share your ideas with the entire Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. We basically will be the link, the hearts of the police force to you in the community.”
“This initiative has given every single one of us the opportunity to realise that we are more than just officers who do operations, more than officers who would lay down the law but to understand people in the community, to speak to people in the community and to show a good face,” he added.
Hopes initiative reverses stigma
Constable John also said that it is the force’s wish that the community policing initiative will help to clear the stigma which is presently attached to police officers.
“We hope that this initiative will make the police service a better name in the community and to help strengthen our relationship in any aspect and of course with the stakeholders, it’s not just about people but the businesses, the stakeholder agencies which we can communicate better and make us a better BVI altogether,” he stated.
Initiative has the full support of the Governor
Meanwhile, Governor John Rankin who was present during the launch of the initiative, expressed his full support for the new police programme.
He believes community policing is a more effective method of policing in the territory.
“The police working with local communities, getting to know the local businesses, local restaurants, the schools, the parents, grandparents and children in their areas, building their trust in the police and the police understanding their needs and what they’re looking for from an effective police service. So I believe that this will help take policing to a further positive step forward in BVI, I believe it will produce results in terms of building community confidence,” Governor Rankin stated.
Also lending a comment was Superintendent of Police Jackie Vanterpool, who said she was beyond honoured of the new initiative which she believes will positively benefit the territory.
“We are looking forward for great results, we’re looking forward to being out in the community not only to be felt but also to be seen, we’re looking forward to a productive community policing strategy from today onwards as we reinforce that every officer is a community policing officer,” Superintendent Vanterpool stated.