News
UK Foreign Office Reviews TCI Police, Failings captured in Guardian News Article
Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, October 23, 2023 – Complaints fielded to media houses and posted on social media for years by residents regarding the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have finally landed on the desk, all prim and proper, at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) according to a report from The Guardian.
An October 17 news article claimed that a new review of the TCI Police by the UK FCDO had found that the Force was not only ‘overwhelmed’ it identified several failures including:
- limited forensic abilities,
- no management structures for serious incidents,
- and a bizarre insistence on recording crime data in a spreadsheet rather than a British government database shared with other police forces in the region.
While this may be news to the Foreign Office, the findings are long documented issues locally.
The shortcomings of the Police in areas like forensic capabilities came under international scrutiny with the case of American attorney, Marie Khunla, where the woman’s body was reportedly left in questionable condition before the arrival of a pathologist from overseas.
There are other incidents as well including the death of an Indian tourist in August 2021 where his body could not be released to family immediately because of the lack of a pathologist, the discovery of a local man, Ryan Musgrove’s headless body in Grace Bay in mid-2023, which remains an unclassified death, reportedly due to a lack of forensics.
And there are more.
As for the management structure for serious incidents, there have been numerous criticisms; a case in point, the murder of British Denise Buck in January 2022 where officers reportedly took much longer than required to cover a negligible distance after a 911 call reporting an ongoing break-in and that deadly attack. An internal investigation was promised but nearly two years on, there are no results of the probe.
The time Police officers took to respond to ‘shots fired’ calls and a crime scene of nearly an entire family slaughtered in a hail of bullets on October 31, 2022 remains unaddressed. The only surviving member of the cruel attack of the Ceasar family, was a seven year old girl sat injured and bloodied in the back seat of the family’s car; likely in shock and unable to move or cry out for help as her mother, brother, unborn sibling and step father lay dead in the car.
The scene was stumbled upon by residents, who filmed and photographed the shocking incident – the police were completely unaware and once they were, had made repeated mistakes regarding the release of information in the matter.
A complete mess amidst an incomprehensible crime.
As for record-keeping, not only is the Royal TCI Police Force notoriously tight-fisted with information, ignoring requests from the Media companies and others to share crime statistics and other data, but it manages its own database.
Essentially characterized in that news report by the Guardian as odd because TCI crime information was not synchronized with the UK’s system or any other overseas territory in the region.
The crime data follows a system linked to the TCI’s financial year which means murders and other crimes are collated from April 1st in one year to March 31st in the other; Commissioner Trevor Botting abandoned the calendar year system when he became top cop.
Still, the yearly data is often late and lacking; at seven months into the 2023-2024 financial year, there is still no release of the 2022 statistics on Crime and Detection.
The Guardian piece, published on Monday October 16, said the investigation was prompted by the unprecedented levels of crime experienced in 2022; calling it the worst among territories and the UK itself.
So far the Report, which is vaguely referenced by the new TCI governor, Daleeni Daniel-Selveratnam in her comments to the UK Guardian, has not yet been shared with Turks and Caicos politicians speaking to Magnetic Media.
Turks and Caicos, May 20, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) officially welcomed the deployment of thirty officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) today, 20th May 2025.
The officers took their oaths of office during a formal swearing-in ceremony, marking the beginning of their service in the Turks and Caicos
Islands.
The deployment is part of a strategic initiative to enhance the RT&CIPF’s operational and tactical capabilities as the Force continues its mission to protect and serve the citizens and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fitz Bailey, addressed the new officers, emphasizing the importance of unity, professionalism, respect for human rights, and upholding human dignity.
The Commissioner pointed out that the officers are now part of a diverse Force comprising officers from over 21 nationalities, including those with Spanish and Creole-speaking backgrounds.
“You are joining a dynamic team with a shared commitment to community safety,” Commissioner Bailey said. “You will work alongside your RT&CIPF counterparts, integrating quickly, transferring your knowledge and experience, and gaining vital local insights. It is essential that you work harmoniously and reassure the communities you serve.”
He further emphasized that the rule of law must be upheld by everyone and reminded the officers to be firm in the execution of their duty,
while in the same breath to uphold human rights while executing their duties: “Respect for human rights must be at the forefront of your service. The safety and dignity of people are paramount.”
Commissioner Bailey also acknowledged the challenges ahead: “There are individuals who seek to instil fear and disrupt our society through criminal activities. But you are here with a mandate—to serve and protect. Your primary objective is to preserve life. In the face of adversity, we must not become victims; we must prevail as victors. Self-preservation, vigilance, and teamwork will be critical as we move forward.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams also addressed the new officers, emphasizing the importance of collaboration: “This is about teamwork—working together to bring stability and safety back to the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Commissioner of Police Warren Clarke, who oversees the Strategic Operations Portfolio within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); Acting Deputy Commissioner Kendall Grant; Acting Assistant Commissioner Dwight Gardiner; Superintendent Jason James; and Acting Superintendent Kemron Lowhar.
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