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Crime up due to COVID-19- CoP Collins to SFC

February 7th, 2022 | Tags: crime COVID-19 Mark Collins SFC scandal
Commissioner of Police (CoP) Mark Collins told Standing Finance Committee (SFC) in December 2021, that some of the crimes for that year 'could be directly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of jobs and livelihoods, with people desperate to make ends meet'. Photo: GIS/File
In his testimony before last year’s SFC, Commissioner of Police Mr Mark Collins told Legislators that between September 2, 2020 and May 2021, there were nine (9) homicide cases reported that were being handled by the Major Incident Team. Photo: Restoration Master Finder/File
In his testimony before last year’s SFC, Commissioner of Police Mr Mark Collins told Legislators that between September 2, 2020 and May 2021, there were nine (9) homicide cases reported that were being handled by the Major Incident Team. Photo: Restoration Master Finder/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Appearing before the House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC) last year, as members examined the 2022 Budget Estimates, Commissioner of Police (CoP) Mark Collins spoke to the issue of crime in the Virgin Islands.

Mr Collins, a UK national, claimed that although crime is slightly down from the same period of last year (2020); he saw “an increase in burglary dwelling, robbery, and violent offenses”.

COVID-19 has crime up- CoP

He noted that “some of the offenses could be directly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of jobs and livelihoods, with people desperate to make ends meet,” according to the SFC report.

In his testimony before last year’s SFC, Mr Collins told legislators that “between the 2nd September 2020 and May 2021, there were nine (9) homicide cases reported that are being handled by the Major Incident Team”. 

Mr Collins reported that six (6) of the cases have been concluded. He added that twenty (20) suspects were charged with the offenses of murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, legal possession of firearms, robbery, assisting offenders, and breach of trust.

During the investigations, according to Mr Collins, “three handguns and several rounds of ammunition were recovered”. In addition to this, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force seized one thousand four hundred and fifty-five kilos of cocaine and cannabis.

Scandal in RVIPF

Under Mr Collin’s tenure, the public blasted his United Kingdom officers last month for using a government boat to allegedly go bar hopping on some of the cays and Willi T.

The CoP has denied the reports and said the officers were on a special operation that included getting the officers familiarised with the areas.

Chairman of the Joint Task Force, Wade N. Smith; however, threw cold water on that claim, saying to our newsroom, “if there was an operation he will be involved and informed” and said the way they were dressed suggested, "it was not an official operation".

10 Responses to “Crime up due to COVID-19- CoP Collins to SFC”

  • asura (07/02/2022, 13:52) Like (9) Dislike (12) Reply
    thanks for standing up wade smith
  • Lol. (07/02/2022, 15:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Crime should be down. Not up.. They really playing we for fools with these stupid excuses....
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (07/02/2022, 16:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank you for reporting on our crime statistics in the British Virgin Islands RVIPF Commissioner Mark Collins. We appreciate your transparency on this crucial issue.
    We now need to hear from the CoI on possible political crimes financial mismanaging in the British Virgin Islands shortly.
  • Madussa (07/02/2022, 18:06) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Crime is not up due to COVID, crime is up because of these lazy drug dealing bastards who want fast money, and don't want to be productive in honest work.
  • facts (07/02/2022, 19:09) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Crime is up because all the Uk officers are at the bars drinking
  • Not buying this (07/02/2022, 22:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blame it on COVID, yeah right. Crime should have dropped.
  • @ FACTS / WIG OR WHATEVER (08/02/2022, 06:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU JUST LOVE TO BLOGG USI DIFFERENT NAMES , (AS USUAL) @ MADDUSA GOT IT ✅ / ONLY MISSED OUT / THE PEOPLE WHO ARE KEEPING SECRETS FOR THE
    CRIMINALS AMONGST US
  • Ajic (09/02/2022, 06:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Crime is up due the cops hands off approach when dealing with these set of hooligans on motor bikes who continue to terrorize our communities and threaten citizens when they talk to them. Many of them form gangs and move around the community commiting petty crimes. In fact most cops appear to be afraid of these young thugs
  • owl (11/02/2022, 21:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These uk polive u dont see them no where. The salary they been paid to do nothing could have been used to pay the local police a proper salary.


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