Police Vetting Process Still Underway
Governor Daniel Pruce confirmed the vetting of officers in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force remains open, with officers still submitting paperwork and a vetting team in place. He said the exercise — part of security reforms from the Commission of Inquiry — faces a legal challenge from the Police Welfare Association and that vetting of prisons, immigration and customs will follow in a second phase.
Governor Daniel Pruce has confirmed that the vetting of officers within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) remains ongoing, with the process still open and officers continuing to submit documentation. Speaking at a press conference this week, Pruce said the vetting exercise is a central element of outstanding security-related recommendations flowing from the Commission of Inquiry led by Sir Gary Hickenbottom. "As you’ll recall, one of the key recommendations from Sir Gary Hickenbottom was the vetting of the police and the vetting of the prison, immigration, and customs services," he said. "The situation concerning vetting of police, one that we’ve discussed previously here, that process is still open.
Officers are still able to submit their paperwork. We have the vetting team established," Pruce added. He stressed that the completion of police vetting remains a directive action under the COI reforms and a core objective of his security agenda. The Governor also confirmed a legal challenge has been lodged by members of the Police Welfare Association. "There is also a case before the courts, which has been brought by colleagues within the Police Welfare Association.
That’s a matter for the courts, not for me to comment upon," Pruce said. He noted that the COI action directed to him — to complete police vetting — will remain pending until legal and administrative matters are resolved. Pruce said the RVIPF was prioritised in the first phase of vetting because of its central role in public safety and confidence.
Prison officers, immigration officers and customs officers were to be included in a second pass. "Concerning the other agencies, such as the prison, customs, and immigration, as we’ve discussed previously, our first priority was on the police. Those other three were going to come in a second pass," he said.
Preparatory work for the second phase is now under way, the Governor said, with fundamental agreements being finalised between partner agencies. "I’m optimistic that in the coming weeks we’ll be able to have those final agreements agreed so that we can then get the vetting of prison officers, immigration officers, and customs officers underway," Pruce stated.
For BVI residents, the vetting programme aims to strengthen accountability and public trust in law enforcement and security agencies. While the process continues, officers’ ability to perform daily duties and the timelines for a fully vetted force will depend on the court outcome and the completion of inter-agency arrangements.
Primary source: BVI News