JOINT PRESS RELEASE 09 February 2024
Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier condemn strongly the shooting
incident on Grand Turk and extend their deepest condolences to the family and to the
community. Such criminality near school children while they were at a school sports
day is deplorable. A serious crime team has been deployed to Grand Turk and action
is underway to conduct a community impact assessment, including work with school
officials and the Ministry of Education to ensure the safety and security of our
communities.
Strengthening of capability
The Governor and the Premier continue to work together closely to strengthen our
operational and strategic response. In addition to the imminent deployment of
experienced Firearms Officers from the United Kingdom announced on 03 February,
and ahead of the arrival of the Commissioner Designate Mr. Edvin Martin (which, –
due to a routine medical procedure and convalescence period – will now take place in
May 2024), the Governor is making the following appointments to bolster the strategic
operational expertise and focus of the RTCIPF:
• Mr Chris Eyre will be appointed as interim RTCIPF Acting Commissioner of
Police effective this Monday 12 February. He has 37-years of experience as a
police officer, including 18-years at Assistant Chief Constable rank and above.
His final role in UK policing was as Chief Constable (Commissioner equivalent)
of Nottinghamshire Police. During his career he has led the operational
response to terrorist attacks, riots, major demonstrations, international criminal
investigations and sensitive covert operations making him well placed to lead
the RTCIPF during this interim period. In his last post, Mr Eyre led the British
Overseas Territory Police Force in the Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus.
• Superintendent Mat Newton will be temporarily appointed to the Force
Executive as an Assistant Commissioner of Police with specific responsibility
for specialist tactical operations.
• Immediate work is being undertaken to recruit a Superintendent to assist
policing in Grand Turk and ensure targeted oversight of community and
policing operations.
This added capability will vitalise the RTCIPF’s strategic and tactical arsenal for
policing across our islands and will ensure the full strength of the Force Executive
leadership at Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner
levels. The Governor and Premier express their sincere thanks to Acting
Commissioner Adams and Acting Deputy Commissioner Grant for their continuing
leadership of the RTCIPF during these challenging times.
The first of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funded rapid
deployment of firearms officers; investigative officers; a firearms commander; a
firearms operations planner and a crime analyst will arrive this weekend. These
officers will provide an immediate boost in tactical and investigative manpower.
Parallel work is underway to secure further regional operational support and a targeted
recruitment campaign is being launched to recruit permanent experienced firearms
officers and investigators to the RTCIPF. This is in addition to the ongoing recruitment
to ensure the full complement at each grade across the rank and file of the RTCIPF.
Commissioner Designate Martin remains committed to leading the RTCIPF. He is
eager to arrive with his family to serve the Turks and Caicos Islands and deliver on his
safety and security responsibilities for the nation. Over the past few weeks, he has
been engaged with the Governor and regional colleagues in support of work to secure
tactical operational support for the RTCIPF.
We appeal to everyone to help the RTCIPF with their investigations. Any piece of
information – however insignificant it might seem – can be pivotal to bringing the
perpetrators to justice and restoring calm to our neighbourhoods.
May God bless you and may God continue to bless the beautiful by nature Turks and
Caicos Islands.
Thank you.
ENDS
