Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
Can Police Commissioner Chris Eyre manage as leader for both border and domestic security? It is the thought which prompted a Magnetic Media question to and response from the interim Police Commissioner and he explained exactly why he believes he is capable of managing both posts.
Tackling crime in Turks and Caicos is a high stakes job with the crime rate rocketing in recent years, also vexing a low detection rate in the islands which has eroded public confidence in police capability and capacity.
Chris Eyre, with a stellar background in policing was brought in from the UK to help change that trend and mere weeks into his new job, another area of concern became critical: the probability of illegal migrants spilling into the British territory following a state of emergency, necessitated when a gang coalition took over Haiti’s capital and freed 4,000 prisoners.
Commissioner Eyre was made lead on the Strategic Coordination Group (SCG) by the Premier, the goal, to fend off Haitian refugees.
In our little Q&A, Commissioner Eyre is reassuring the public that he can handle the responsibility of overseeing both internal security and the chairmanship of the Strategic Coordinating Group.
“Both roles are intertwined and involve collaborating with local law enforcement partners and various domestic and international agencies to exchange information and stay ahead of evolving risks,” Eyre said while speaking to Magnetic Media on March 19.
Though they are interdependent, the two mantles have distinct deliverables that must be met, without which serious security issues could occur; the need for cooperation between Border Security and Internal Policing does not negate that.
The security jobs admittedly intersect in many places, but the responsibilities require heavy lifting especially with a frightening escalation in armed robberies in the Turks and Caicos of late.
“Balancing the dual roles of acting Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the Strategic Coordination Group (SCG) requires a delicate equilibrium between operational oversight and strategic intelligence management,” he told us
Eyre went on to describe the duties of each position, the SGC he said ensures ‘the precise coordination of a cohesive national security operational strategy to secure the territory’s borders, defend life, and protect property.’
“I chair meetings and coordinate with all agencies to deliver our collective goal of safeguarding the TCI. As acting Commissioner of Police, it is essential that the Office I hold ensures the effective implementation of law enforcement measures, maintains public safety, and upholds the rule of law within communities. This involves managing resources, personnel, and operational strategies to combat crime and respond to emergencies promptly,” the Commissioner explained.
He highlighted the support of his peers in carrying this out.
“As SCG chair, I sit alongside an experienced and competent team of critical partners,” he said.
So far, Eyre and his team have stopped three illegal Haitian sloops with well over 300 migrants aboard, some of whom were found to be criminals from Haiti. The SCG has also agreed to adding resigned Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry to the country’s Immigration Stop List and it is expected more UK reinforcement in assets and human resources are already bolstering marine and border intelligence for the islands.
The acting commissioner was hired in February 2024 to lead the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force until the arrival of Edvin Martin, Commissioner-Designate, who had medical issues which have delayed his commencement to May.
