RTCIPF Marine Branch & Coastal Rader Station Merge to protect TCI Borders

#TurkandCaicos, May 27, 2022 – Commissioner of Police, Mr. Trevor Botting made the following statement.

“I am pleased to announce that command and management of the Turks and Caicos Islands Coastal Radar Station has now transitioned to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force from the Ministry of Immigration and Border Control.

The Coastal Radar Station will be part of Specialist Operations portfolio under Assistant Commissioner Mr. Kendall Grant and will merge and work directly alongside the RTCIPF Marine Branch. Following the merge, the Coastal Rader Station will be renamed the Maritime Operations Centre. This reflects the ambition to develop a RTCIPF Maritime Command Centre to manage all aspects of marine safety, security and search operations.

The bringing together of the RTCIPF Marine Branch with our new Operatives from the Maritime Operations Centre is part of the complex and ambitious work to enhance the national security and border protection of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This year will see the ongoing work to enhance the radar coverage across the coastal waters of the TCI as well as a deepening and increasingly collaborative working relationship with regional partners to tackle human smuggling in this part of the region.

I was delighted to formally welcome the staff, from what was the Coastal Rader Station, to the RTCIPF family when I met with them on Friday 20th May 2022.  The new Maritime Operations Centre, joined with the RTCIPF Marine Branch will strengthen the Border Protection arrangements to keep the Turks and Caicos Islands safe and secure.”