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'Not everybody trusts the Police Commissioner'- CoP Matthews
The top cop appeared on the International Morning Ride Show on June 16, 2017, with host Paul A. Peart aka Gadiethz on 103.7 FM where he was questioned about the crime situation in the Territory.
In response to a question by the host, as to why the public was not communicating with the police, the CoP responded, “We have a responsibility as a police force to service and ensure that there is community confidence and trust in local policing. I recognise that not everybody trusts the local police, and not everybody trusts the Police Commissioner….”
When asked about the diversity of the police force and how it protects the Territory, Mr Matthews said that the police service is made up of a "diverse number of people… from around this Territory… and from overseas and each of those individuals have committed themselves to providing policing services for this community and none of us is here on holidays."
There must be someone who you can trust in the Force
On the issue of trust of the police, he stated that “There are about 250 police officers in the Territory and if you can’t trust everybody at least you can trust one.”
Mr Matthews, a British National who was appointed Police Commissioner in 2016, is a former Chief Constable of the Cyprus Sovereign Base Area (SBA) Police Force, another UK Overseas Territory.
Since he came to office he received most, if not all that he had requested to help fight crime, including special funding from a $1.8 M allocation when the United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE imposed direct rule and stripped the Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) and the House of Assembly of their powers to determine how monies are spent.
Public becoming impatient with ‘Mick’
Mr Duncan did this by invoking Section 103 (b) of the Constitution which gives him power to take money from the Consolidated Fund and determine how it is spent with no questions asked. This was a history making move, according to former Deputy Governor Elton Georges CMG, OBE.
Months later, the public is becoming impatient that there appears not to be a reduction in crime. In fact, crime is on the increase despite the financial resources provided, along with new police recruits.
Mr Matthews told the International Morning Ride Show listeners on ZROD 103.7 FM that there is “a small group of criminals that is causing large problems to our communities.”
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39 Responses to “'Not everybody trusts the Police Commissioner'- CoP Matthews”
All you bloggers that complain about expat cops at the beach and in the bars - do you think they should have no time off? How do you spend your weekends? If you see them in a bar engage them in conversation. They and you might learn a thing or two that might help solve crimes. Its not the cops not solving the crimes, its our people who know things, or pretend to know things on the blogs, not coming forward with information.
The RVIPF needs to launch a comprehensive public education and outreach programme. The force must be promoted as a profession, not just a job. Fairness, equality and opportunity for all must be a vital part of belonging to the organization, taking ownership. Continued favoritism is a cancer that must be rooted out. The distrust of RVIPF is earned; it has to initiate action to lower the gap between where the force is and where it should be. More effective planning and controlling needs to be instituted.
What a good retirement reputation; do not allow Government and their protection of family get in the way of your job, keep you image and do the right thing. Just my advice to you sir, take it if you are really smart.
The territory is subservient to a group that has isolated it from the rest of the world via telephonic network for their personal gain so, Mr. Commissioner........you better get on the horn and plug the BVI into any network wherein the citizenry can call in tips to someone answering the phone in Miami ....Australia ...somewhere...since your cops got loose lips which sink ships....it's the 21st century ....oh no wait ...not in Tortola....