Crime Wave gets uglier and uglier

Police Commissioner Vernon Malone is appealing for public support as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force grapples with yet another upsurge in criminal activity in the territory.

At a hastily called press conference just after noon Wednesday, he announced what was the latest in a series of burglaries. This incident occurred at around 2:42 am at the East End home of Albert and Joyce Stewart, where four armed men reportedly broke into the house and robbed them of $150 in jewellery. In the tussle, one of the men shot and injured Mr. Stewart in his left elbow and up until press time he was still hospitalised.

Meantime, in what appears to be a related incident, Police were called to the Butu Mountain area about an hour later after a resident heard an explosion and saw fire from an area near the Belle Vue reservoir. Mr. Malone told reporters that a white Subaru motorcar PV 5621 that the Stewarts had earlier reported missing was found to be on fire. The fire was extinguished by the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department, this being at least the second vehicular fire for the week.

The first incident occurred on the Kingston main road on Sunday night.
“An extensive crime scene search is being conducted and investigations are continuing by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force,” the Commissioner said. He said the police are introducing extraordinary measures aimed at preventing and detecting these crimes. An amnesty for weapons was expected to be one of the measures discussed at a Senior Management meeting later in the day. Mr. Malone announced that all vacation leave for Police Officers have been suspended and those officers already on leave have been ordered to return to work immediately. “I regard the commission of serious crimes in the territory as a serious emergency and it’s our job to bring all human and vehicular forces to bear on the problem, in order to reduce the incidence of these types of offences.” He said the police will take whatever steps necessary to reduce these crimes, including contacting other agents outside the BVI with whom they have had good contacts. “We will introduce a number of patrols and strategies…but I can’t speak to the details of these.”

Any member of the public with any information regarding the identity of these suspects is asked to call the Commissioner at telephone number 494-3226 or give the information to any Police Officer. Wednesday’s incident came on the heels of two separate incidents last week in Road Town. There was also the incident at Beef Island Airport Customs, where the safe and several documents were reported stolen.

There had been sudden upshots of crime in the territory in the past, with four such events in the last 6 or 7 years. According to Commissioner Malone, this force stood up to the challenge and brought the situation under control and he gave the assurance that they will work day and night to do the same in this situation as well. With the 2001 festival season beginning in earnest this weekend, the resources of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force would be stretched. But the Commissioner is not daunted.
“The police, although stretched, will do all it can to maintain the safety and security of all of the people visiting and living in the BVI and so the public shouldn’t have fear,” he responded. “The police will be out in their numbers and would be briefed to take any action necessary.”

Over on Virgin Gorda, where a group of local businesspersons had expressed serious concern about a spiral in the crime rate on that island, Commissioner Malone said additional resources were dispatched to the island. He said police have not had any serious reports since then and they are still pursuing earlier reports. There is an active crime prevention programme within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, headed by officer Patrick Harewood. One of the philosophies is community policing.
“And so we expect the community will come forward and give information; members of the public have been showing support already and promising further support in the future,” the Police Chief stated. “Please help us to help you,” he appealed.

Several senior officers, along with new Information Officer Tamara Archibald Gill, who joined the Force July 16th, accompanied the Commissioner at the press conference. A former Teacher at the BVI High School, she comes equipped with a degree in Communications Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.