Discharging Of Firearms; Statement from Commissioner of Police

Statement from Mr. Trevor Botting, Commissioner of Police

#TurksandCaicos, April 15, 2022 – In the last three days the community of Five Cays has been terrorized by dangerous criminals discharging firearms indiscriminately recklessly within the community. The actions of these young men have led to one shooting, the victim of which remains in hospital in a serious condition. Whilst only one person, to our knowledge, has been shot, there has been a constant discharging of firearms within the tight residential community, a community that is in fear and a community that is paralyzed and unable to live their normal lives whilst this reckless and criminal behaviour continues.

The current situation is simply not tolerable. Armed policing operations have been deployed in Five cays in response to this situation, both to push back against the criminals carrying and discharging firearms but also to proactively target those who we know are responsible. In the early hours of today, 8 th April an armed operation was carried out by our Tactical Team against a targeted individual. He is in custody and a firearm, ammunition and evidence linking him to murder and other serious crime have been recovered. More operations will be carried out to target those responsible for the recent rise in firearms crime and activity.

The reasons for the rise in activity is no doubt due to a number of issues, drugs, disputes and reprisals between groups of men and the commission of crimes such as robbery. However, the causes matter not when it comes to the response of the RTCIPF. Officers have a clear mandate and a legal right to defend themselves, the public and their colleagues, if threatened. In policing we never want to use force, we want compliance with the law and common decent behavior. However, Officers will use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves and my message to those carrying firearms or terrorizing our communities is clear, if you pose a threat to the public or Police Officers we will respond with force including firearms. The choices you make, may have a consequence for you. Our utmost priority is to protect our public and we will do that uncompromisingly.

Officers are deployed in response to this situation and over the coming days, the men and women of the RTCIPF will continue working to reassure our communities that we are actively and visibly pursuing these individuals who have sort to disrupt the peace within our communities.

We have instigated proactive policing strategies which we have already seen positive results. We have a robust command system in place with direct operational oversight by the Acting Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Grant.

The public can expect to see increase activities by our officers across our communities, these activities will continue until those responsible are caught and brought to justice.

We (are) asking persons to continue to call and report any suspicious activity, it is important that we work together to remove these and other illegal weapons from our communities. However, I would caution persons to ensure that any information, photographs and videos are not circulated until unless they are verified to be current and relate to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The circulation of erroneous or fake information simply increases the fear within already concerned communities.

The RTCIPF has extended its firearm amnesty program. Persons who are in possession of illegal firearms have an opportunity to surrender them. You should know that the possession of an illegal firearm will result in a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison so now is the time to hand in illegal firearms.

We know our communities are fearful, we understand why and we are responding in an intelligence led, visible and focused way. I appreciate the support we are getting and the information that is being passed to us as the Force tackles this dangerous criminal element. Please, if you see something, say something. Continue to tell us what you know and please support and pray for the courageous officers who are deployed to tackle the dangerous criminals who are blighting the beautiful communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Thank you and God bless you.