New Police Vehicles to Boost Patrols
Interim Acting Commissioner Richard Ullger says new police vehicles will strengthen both visible and covert patrols as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force increases road operations to tackle violent crime and illegal firearms. The force has stepped up targeted checks, seized unlicensed motorcycles and tasked the Community Policing Unit with reinforced beat patrols in traffic hotspots.
Interim Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger said new police vehicles will enhance patrols and support targeted operations as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) intensifies efforts to tackle violent crime and improve visibility across the territory. Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme, Ullger outlined a mix of covert and overt strategies designed to place officers on the streets for both visible reassurance and discreet enforcement.
He said recent weeks have seen heightened road policing, targeted checks and the seizure of illegal vehicles, including a number of unlicensed motorcycles. "We will certainly see our officers on our streets undertaking operations to be both covert and overt so that we can start tackling these crimes," Ullger said, stressing that the vehicle upgrades will help officers respond more effectively and sustain patrol activity in key areas.
A central concern for the Acting Commissioner is the prevalence of unlicensed firearms. Ullger warned that too many unlicensed guns are circulating in the community and said removing those weapons from the streets is a priority because of the potential for violent offending when firearms fall into the wrong hands.
Ullger acknowledged public concerns about police visibility, particularly in traffic hotspots, and confirmed that the Community Policing Unit has been tasked to support road policing and beat patrols. He noted enforcement operations have drawn both complaints and praise from residents, a signal that policing actions are being noticed across the Territory.
While overall reported crime remains comparatively low, Ullger said the severity of violence in some incidents is troubling. "When there is violent crime, the violence is quite violent and aggressive. Still, he added that recent months have shown improvements: a decrease in violent crimes and an increase in detections.
Ullger urged public cooperation, saying the community is the police force’s "eyes and ears" and that investigations rely on information from residents. He encouraged anyone with information about violent crime, firearms or illegal vehicles to come forward and support detection and prosecution efforts.
The vehicle upgrades form part of broader operational adjustments under Ullger’s interim tenure aimed at aligning resources to the Territory’s highest risks and demands. He said the goal remains to deliver "an adequate police service providing good service to the public," with improved patrol presence and enforcement activity across the BVI.
Primary source: BVI News