Governor Daniel Pruce has announced the start of two major developments in the territory’s law enforcement framework: the formal initiation of a vetting process for all officers in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the reopening of the recruitment campaign for a new Commissioner of Police.
In a statement late last week, Governor Pruce said he has been in discussion with the Police Service Commission (PoSC) encouraging its engagement with the Home Office vetting team to get the process underway.
However, the Governor noted that the PoSC is not yet in the position to do so.
Governor Pruce stated that he has made the necessary amendments to the Regulations, to get the process underway and engage the Home Office team, adding that these have now been gazetted, and he has signed the agreement with the UK Home Office so that vetting can begin.
Governor Pruce explained that a police force that is not subject to proper vetting poses a risk to the security of the Territory and he has therefore made the necessary amendments to the Regulations, to get the process underway and engage the Home Office team.
Meanwhile Governor Pruce stated that now that the second volume of the HMICFRS Law Enforcement Review has been published to more accurately define the person specification needed for this critical role of Commissioner of Police, a new recruitment campaign is now live.
The Governor believes they need a Police Commissioner who can deliver transformational change in a complex organisation, at a time when the challenges it faces are rapidly evolving.
He is therefore confident that he and the PoSC, Deputy Governor, and the central HR team will be able to appoint a new Commissioner who is well placed to meet this challenge successfully.
Governor Pruce is hoping to have that person in position by September this year.