Police Maintain Firm Stance On Domestic Violence

Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Vernon Malone has reiterated its position of zero tolerance with the perpetrators of domestic violence. The RVIPF has a protocol document from which they should work. However, there have been reports that the Police do not adhere to this set of rules and are in fact a hindrance to the fight against domestic violence.

"I have insisted that people who beat women be charged and that no warning be issued and this is what we have been doing," he emphasized. Commissioner Malone said the Police have taken an extremely firm stand against domestic violence and the records are there to show. He has spoken about this in the media, instructions have been issued to Police Officers and there have been many arrests and many persons brought before the Courts. "People have come to my office and asked if the matter could be stood down and I have said to them 'no, you will go to Court'," the Police Chief stated. He said unless there is a very good reason, it will be a matter for the victim to decide, in court, whether they want to dismiss the case. The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has a Family and Juvenile Department, which is headed by Inspector Baltimore and the Deputy Head is Sergeant Vanterpool. This Department will shortly be run by two shifts, where Police Officers from the Unit will be available day and night. He said the Unit is not large enough to handle these issues on its own and therefore, they will have to be supported by the night shift, the night Inspector, the shift Sergeant and even more senior officers, depending on the situation.

Inspector Baltimore recently attended a workshop on domestic violence issues held by another government department. Sergeant Vanterpool has attended a four-month Social Work course in Jamaica. Officer Claudette Rhymer from that Department is also now in Jamaica pursuing the same programme. "The job of the Police is to investigate crime and charge offenders, but we understand and appreciate that there is a particular environment to domestic violence and that is why we are training our front-line Officers to be able to deal with the matter," the Commissioner stated. He said other Officers have also undergone training in this area, but went on to note that a domestic violence offence, per se, is no different to any other offence. "It is to be investigated, the complainant is to give a statement, we are to find out who the witnesses were, record statements from them and bring a charge against the person and let the person be taken to court, which we have been doing," said the Chief of Police. He noted that there are other issues relating to domestic violence that are not Police functions. "For instance, if the person was violent and put the woman out of the house, we need the other types of services, so that this person can have a place to stay for the night." Mr. Malone said the Police function is to find the man who did it, arrest them, collect the evidence, charge them and take them to court but to do so with due sensitivity. "So, that is where we are, we are very, very serious about domestic violence in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force," he stated categorically.