Turks & Caicos Police is Growing for Safer Communities says Police Commissioner

By Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2023 – Trevor Botting, the Turks and Caicos Commissioner of Police, in his welcome message for Police Week on March 6th, highlighted the growth of the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force which means a greater, safer TCI.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, like many islands in the region has faced and is facing threats from various angles whether it be on land or at sea.  The Commissioner stated that they have been dealing with maritime threats such as the smuggling of drugs and firearms, people smuggling, and illegal fishing.  He hinted at the fact that throughout the region, there has been a rise in maritime movement which poses a threat to safety and national security.

“The last year has seen a deepening of our regional partnerships to tackle the maritime threat with greater connectivity and collaboration with US law enforce and the Bahamas Defense Force. These relationships will enhance the safety and security of the northern Caribbean region,” said Botting.

This is what many had been clamouring for, greater regional synergy, especially in times like these when the outflow of guns and ammunitions from the US is being financed by an increasingly aggressive inter-regional gang network and due to the democratic instability in nearby Haiti.

In continuation, the Force has also appointed a fresh and ready Head of Crime, Superintendent, Dean Holden alongside 17 investigators, funded by the UK Government as a gesture of support for the well needed Serious Crime Team.

Turks and Caicos Islands Police currently has a low detection rate even as the nation, in 2022 became #1 in the region for murder.

Botting further touted that the recruitment does not stop at the 18 officers also in training at Police College in Freeport, Grand Bahama but braces for the acquisition of  state-of–the-art vessels being funded by the UK Government as well as 12 marine officers for the Marine Branch team.

This additional support to the marine branch may be able to satisfy the dire need for the reopening of the Grand Turk marine office, which is currently shut.

In that Police Week message, Botting reiterated the commitment to Community Policing taking his members into the communities, and schools.