UK model for hiring Police Commission is a failure

Amid the Governor’s promise to relaunch the search for a new Police Commissioner, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has deemed the UK’s selection process a failure, adding that the BVI would be better off with a local in the top post.

Following the April 8 publication of a new report on crime-fighting agencies in the territory, Governor Daniel Pruce said he will be choosing the territory’s next Police Commissioner based on the recommendations of the report.

But during Tuesday’s debate on the controversial report in the House of Assembly, Premier Wheatley said the UK’s system of selecting an expatriate for the post isn’t working for the BVI.

“This system they have of police commissioners coming from the UK every two to three years, it’s a failure! Every time a new one comes, they start from scratch. Half the time they are here, they use it to try to figure out what’s going on. By the time they figure out what’s going on, it’s time for them to leave. It’s a failure,” the Premier stated.

He added that the top cop post is suitable for a local, who is more likely to understand the cultural and socio-economic factors that affect crime in the society. The Premier said this would be different from past expatriates who’ve held the post and often viewed “everybody as a suspect.”

“I cast no aspersions on any of them but this system is a failure. We have people who have come up through this course, they understand our society, the cultural and the socio-economic context, and those things are important. They know the young man who may have been giving trouble since he was a student and maybe his parents have a history of going to the police station,” the Premier further explained.

Take responsibilities from the governor

The Premier also rejected the report prepared by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which suggests placing the Customs Department, Financial Investigation Agency, and Immigration Department under the direct control of the Governor — effectively removing them from the elected government’s remit.

Instead of putting more agencies under the Governor, the Premier said he believes responsibilities currently under the Governor should be devolved to the elected government. He and other elected leaders expressed that many areas under the Governor’s remit have been underperforming for years.

“We should actually do the opposite of what is being suggested here. The police, the prison, and internal security should be under the responsibility of the elected government. Colonialism is a failure and doesn’t lead to greater security, it leads to an inferior state of security,” the Premier said.