Retired UK constable Mark Collins appointed VI's Top CoP
The appointment was made by outgoing Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Service Commission, in keeping with the procedure outlined in Section 97 of the Virgin Islands Constitution, order 2017.
Collins retires from UK this year
Mr Collin’s appointment in the Virgin Islands (VI) comes as he retires as Chief Constable of the Dyfed Powys force in the UK, and replaces current Police Chief Michael B. Matthews, who was appointed in April 2016.
Further, the appointment comes amidst community outcry that the Commissioner's post should be held by a local, however, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) recently confirmed that no locals were prepared for the job.
“The future belongs to the prepared and this is why we have to continue to ensure that we prepare our people for all these jobs,” Hon Fahie said on the Tuesday, January 12, 2021 edition of the Honesty Speaking show.
The Premier was at the time responding to questions from host Claude O. Skelton-Cline on whether a retired UK police was the best the territory could hire amidst a sea of local talent.
Mark Collins' appointment in the Virgin Islands (VI) comes as he retires as Chief Constable of the Dyfed Powys force in the UK, and replaces current Police Chief Michael B. Matthews appointed in April 2016.
Looking forward to new role - Mr Collins
Speaking on the Appointment, Mr Collins said, “I very much look forward to starting my new role as Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and serving the people of BVI.”
The Governor said Mr Collins' leadership experience in particular will be valuable as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force continues to build capacity among its leadership ranks.
Mr Collins, who was awarded the Queen’s Policing Medal in the New Year’s Honours List 2020, has also held the national portfolio on policing and mental health, and in more recent years has also led UK policing in understanding and tackling group-based child sexual exploitation, according to Dyfed-Powys Police.
