Governor: Crime Summit Delivers Tangible Results
Governor Daniel Pruce says commitments from the 2025 Anti-Crime Summit are producing concrete improvements across the territory’s security sector, including upgraded police communications, a UK-funded maritime radar and additional funding for key justice agencies. He also announced a new senior strategic security adviser post and plans to rebuild public engagement with law enforcement.
Governor Daniel Pruce has outlined a series of concrete outcomes that he says have flowed from last year’s Anti-Crime Summit, telling reporters at Government House that several projects are already underway or expected to be delivered within months. The summit, held in September 2025, brought together government ministers, law enforcement, justice officials and other stakeholders to identify practical steps to reduce crime and strengthen public safety.
At a March briefing, Pruce said commitments made there have moved from discussion to implementation. One immediate priority is modernising police communications. A UK-funded project manager has been deployed to oversee an upgrade of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force radio system, and the governor said delivery of new radios is expected in the coming months.
Improved radio communications are intended to enhance coordination between officers across the islands and speed response times. Border security and maritime surveillance are also receiving attention. The governor confirmed the installation of a maritime radar system will be fully funded by the United Kingdom and is expected to be operational within the next 12 months.
Officials say the radar will strengthen detection of suspicious activity at sea and support efforts to interdict illegal movement into the territory. Pruce said he had committed at the summit to create a senior strategic security adviser role within the Governor’s Office to help develop a comprehensive national security strategy.
He expects that adviser to join by the middle of this year, bringing additional strategic capacity to co-ordinate initiatives across agencies. The 2026 budget, the governor noted, includes notable increases for core justice institutions: an additional $6.7 million for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, $2.3 million for His Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut and just over $800,000 for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Pruce described the funding as addressing a “historic period of underfunding” and said UK Ministry of Justice officials have begun assessments to guide improvements to the prison estate. Beyond hardware and funding, the governor stressed the need to sustain public engagement. He said a more flexible, inclusive and interactive model is being developed to allow residents to share views with law enforcement through multiple channels.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect a coordinated push — supported by UK resources — to strengthen the territory’s ability to prevent and respond to crime. Officials say more detailed plans and timelines will be shared as projects progress, and they have urged public cooperation as the changes are implemented.
Primary source: BVI News