Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Jan 24, 2025

Rejected provisions in Police Act must come back — Governor

Rejected provisions in Police Act must come back — Governor

Several of the provisions that were rejected by lawmakers and residents in the controversial Police Bill that was withdrawn months ago from the House of Assembly (HOA) should be returned for consideration once again.
That was the position recently expressed by Governor John Rankin, who commented that he regretted some of the discussions that surrounded the Bill at the time it was being moved through the House.

“Those provisions in the Police Act which were not passed by the House of Assembly, I think [need] to come back,” Governor Rankin said. “I very much regretted some of the dialogue around the Police Act claiming it was non-human rights compliant. I simply don’t think that’s true.”

The Bill had faced tremendous pushback from members of the public and lawmakers in the HOA after several of its provisions were deemed to be too excessive and invasive.

Among the more concerning provisions of the Bill that was introduced was the empowerment of police officers to conduct searches and to take DNA evidence — including blood, urine and semen samples — without the aid of a warrant.

Lawmakers ultimately passed a watered down version of the Bill that would allow police to secure DNA samples from persons, without the inclusion of the draconian measures that had been rejected.

Standard in democratic countries

But Governor Rankin pushed back on those arguments and contended that he would never give assent to a Bill that was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, which he noted also applies in this territory.

The governor explained that a number of the provisions which were being objected to are simply standard provisions within democratic countries around the world.

“The suggestion made that the police can’t enter a home where they believe violence may be about to take place, or domestic violence may be taking place without having a warrant to enter into those homes in emergency situations, I think is simply wrong,” the governor added

He further expressed that this demonstrated an incorrect balance between human rights and public safety, which are civil liberties that both himself and the Commissioner of Police will always want to protect.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany’s Democracy Under Strain: Political Labeling Sparks Free Speech Concerns
The Trump Era 2: A Time of Dramatic and Profound Change
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Suggests Bitcoin Could Reach $700,000 with Increased Institutional Investment
Leaked Documents Reveal Google's Collaboration with Israeli Defense Forces During Gaza Conflict
Trump to Announce $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment
Dear President Donald Trump, I want to assure you that this fraud does NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of decent British citizens.
Olaf Scholz vs. Elon Musk: A Battle Over Common Sense, Which Scholz Appears to Be Missing
EU’s Overregulation Drives Innovation Collapse and Brain Drain
Five Billionaires on Track to Break One Trillion Dollar Wealth Barrier
TikTok Restored in the U.S. Following Trump inauguration
Bill Ackman Praises Social Media Platform X as 'The New Media'
Argentina Achieves Record Trade Surplus in 2024 Under President Milei
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Proposes Rome as European Union Capital
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Former Special Forces Blast Defense Ministry for Revealing Sensitive Details
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
The Wildfires of Los Angeles: A Devastating Impact on Celebrities and California's Leadership
Tragic Loss: Teenager's Death Sparks Community Reflection in Bedford and London
UK Government Proposes Cap on Resale Ticket Prices to Combat Touts
Greenland's Future Caught in Diplomatic Crossfire Between Trump and Europe
EU Prepared to Lead Support for Ukraine Amid US Uncertainty, Says Estonian Prime Minister
Brompton E-Bike Component Diverted to UK Military Drone Production, Causes Delays
Romanian Gang Convicted of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Dundee
Persistent Cold Snap Grips the UK: Severe Frost and Snow Disrupt Daily Life
Germany Faces Alarming Rise in Homelessness, New Report Shows
China’s Appetite for Salmon: A Game Changer in Global Seafood Markets
Russian Bots Allegedly Amplified NATO Critic Prior to Croatian Election, Researchers Reveal
Armenia Considers EU Membership Referendum Amid Strained Ties with Russia
French Finance Minister Explores Pension Reform Compromise to Secure Budget Agreement
Armenia Considers EU Referendum Amid Growing Rift with Russia
New Wildfire Ignites in Los Angeles as Region Battles Devastating Blazes
The Espionage Unraveled: A Russian Spy Network's Intricacies in the UK
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
UK Financial Markets Remain Calm Amid Rising Government Borrowing Costs
Stellantis Achieves UK Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Amid Factory Closure
TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the United States Amid Security Concerns
Pound Plummets to 14-Month Low Amid Concerns Over UK Borrowing Costs
Tensions Rise Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March in London
Bomb Scare in Central London: Abandoned Car Sparks Panic Near Regent Street
Police Seek Suspect in Antisemitic Incident at Liverpool Street Station
Regulatory Reprimand for London Charity Over Fundraising for Israeli Soldier
The Duchess of Sussex Mourns Devastating Loss of Beloved Rescue Dog
From Chairman to Controversial Politician: Rupert Lowe's Journeys in Business and Politics
Metropolitan Police Halts Pro-Palestine March Near BBC Due to Proximity to Synagogue
Inside Warwick Hospital: A Glimpse into the NHS's Battle Against Winter Pressures
Chappell Roan: A Synth-Pop Sensation Emerges as BBC Sound Of 2025 Winner
Search Intensifies for Missing Aberdeen Sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Pioneering Drug Consumption Room Opens in Glasgow
Ryanair Initiates Legal Action Against Disruptive Passenger in Landmark Case
Former Brexit Negotiator Oliver Robbins Appointed Top Civil Servant at UK Foreign Office
×