Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

Police Bill 2023 raises red flags & makes way for police abuse of rights

Police Bill 2023 raises red flags & makes way for police abuse of rights

Many residents and legal minds, who have taken a look at the proposed Police Act, 2023, said the Bill in its current form has raised some serious issues and will take away the human rights of the people.

For example, in Section 27-35 that deals with fingerprints, foot impressions and DNA, the Act essentially allows the police to take fingerprints of a person without consent in almost every imaginable circumstance, without a warrant for same. These will be uploaded to a database and will remain on the database for seven years, even if the person is not charged, or has been acquitted or the case discontinued. This, they said, should be alarming for all residents.

Police Commissioner Mark Collins. Section 45 of the proposed Police Act, 2023 allows the Police Commissioner to implement a cordon whenever he/she sees fit.

Police can search without a warrant

In addition, Section 36 will allow for the police to search persons in their dwellings, without a warrant, if they have reasonable grounds for believing that the person does not live there or does not have permission to be there. It has been argued that this again goes against human rights and the right of privacy.

Section 38 of the proposed Bill will allow a police officer to search the home of someone who is arrested on an arrestable offence without a warrant, even without that person being present. This provision should frighten the public on the face of it, according to one local activist.

A further review of the Bill shows that Section 42 would allow the police to access communications between lawyer and client. It has been long-standing in the international legal community and best practice that legal privilege is a constitutional right enjoyed by every individual and provides that what a client says to a lawyer and what a lawyer says to a client are to remain confidential.

Section 45 allows the Police Commissioner to implement a cordon whenever he/she sees fit, and “knowing our most recent experience with UK Police Chiefs, the public must push back against this,” the same activist noted.

Many residents and legal minds, who have taken a look at the proposed Police Act, 2023, said the Bill in its current form has raised some serious issues and will take away the human rights of the people.

Police can take computer & other property without warrant

Another red flag in the Bill is found in Section 49, which allows the police who are lawfully on the premises of anyone to seize their property without a warrant and require access to their computer without a warrant as is presently required.

Finally, Sections 186-189 alter the right to silence, and allows the court to draw negative inferences from a person exercising their right to silence. Currently, no negative inferences can be drawn from a person wishing to remain silent. Section 186 seeks to change that.

The right to silence is a constitutional right and protects our fundamental rights and freedoms. The social activist noted that constituents should call their House of Assembly (HoA) representatives on their concerns and pay close attention to this Bill.

The Police Act, 2023 had its first reading yesterday, Thursday, February 2, 2023, in the HoA. The Bill is sponsored by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×