Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Apr 21, 2025

Police Officers claim they were not shown version of Police Act before HoA

Police Officers claim they were not shown version of Police Act before HoA

On the heel of an outcry by the public and many legislators on the version of the Police Act 2023 before the House of Assembly (HoA) comes word that local police officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) are claiming to not have seen the version that made it to the HoA.

This Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Police Act (Revised Edition 2013) and to make provision for matters including the Powers, Duties and Privileges of Police Officers; Police Bail and Breaches and Police Property.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online on condition of anonymity, many police officers noted that while they were involved and discussed the original draft of the Police Act, after they made some recommendations no one came back to them as a group to say what was adopted in the Bill from the police officers.

The version that had its first reading in the HoA on Thursday, February 2, 2023, after being brought to the House by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), has raised red flags throughout the country, even from many local police officers.

One officer who saw the Bill in its current form said many of the items the police officers discussed seem to have never made it to the current Bill before the HoA, especially in areas of remuneration.

The proposed Police Act, 2023 has been criticised as having many red flags and can possibly make way for police abuse of rights.

Police State being pushed?

Many have argued that the current Police Act 2023 before the HoA strips residents of their liberties and human rights and is geared to turn the Territory into a Police and communist-like state.

The current Bill allows the police to take fingerprints, foot impressions and DNA without someone’s consent and without a warrant.

The same Bill allows the police, even UK Officers, to search residents’ dwellings without a search warrant, access communications between lawyer and client and allows the Police Commissioner to implement a cordon whenever he or she sees fit.

The controversial Bill also allows the police to alter the right to silence, and allows the courts 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.
UK appointed Governor John J. Rankin, CMG. Many local police officers and residents have expressed concern that over 25 UK Officers who are here as having a main mission to harass locals and allegedly to trump up charges against targeted residents, in line with the Governor’s agenda.


Trouble in police force; Blacks vs White; police state started?

Meanwhile, there is growing tension between the Police Welfare Association and Police Commissioner Mark Collins. It is our understanding that some members of the organisation are being victimised for speaking out on the alleged injustices going on in the police force against officers and there is upcoming legal action against Commissioner Collins’ alleged disregard for promotion procedures and policies.

There is also tension between the UK Police Officers and locals.

Many see the over 25 UK Officers who are here as having a main mission to harass locals and allegedly to trump up charges against targeted residents, in line with the Governor’s agenda. He noted, “they are here for revenge so look out…”

The UK police officers (most often white) are reportedly making more money than long-standing senior police officers, treated better, given all the resources (high price car rentals and new vehicles) they need and have the power to override local police officers, most often blacks, with higher ranks in the force, according to police sources.

Our news centre is doing our own investigations on these allegations and will bring another story with testimonies from current police officers, residents who have experienced abuse from UK officers and others who have alleged bogus charges trumped up against them by the UK police officers.
There is reportedly tension between the UK Police Officers and local officers, over remuneration, promotion and privileges.


Bill available for review

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office on February 7, 2023, notified the public that the Bill entitled, Police Act, 2023 is now available for review on the Virgin Islands Official Gazette website at https://eservices.gov.vg/gazette/.

It said the Bill was published in an extraordinary issue of the Gazette No. 13 dated February 3, 2023.

Click here to download Police Act, 2023
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
×