TNAG-0597-FCO40-744-Future-of-Dependent-Territories-territorial-studies-1977 — Page 145

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

CODE 18-77

$S 10.776

LAW AND ORDER

16. Mr Stanley thought that the problem of maintaining law and order needed re-thinking in the light of the recent episode in Anguilla. Joint Theatre Plans were devices of last resort since public opinion both in Britain and locally, was increasingly reluctant to accept the need to bring white soldiers into a colonial situation (sailors would present fewer problems).

17. There were several suggestions:

a) A regional police force (possibly stationed at the Barbados Police Training School.) Even if local governments agreed to finance this, it would be difficult without a current territorial beat for it to maintain discipline and credibility. The Cayman Islands for a start would not contribute.

b) A regional police reserve This would be a composite, paper force with a shadow complement able to draw on elements from all the island forces in the scheme. It might be built up from the existing regional training arrangements at the BVI training place. However, there would be complex problems of logistics and an agreed command structure. A force of this sort would be impossible to assemble in a hurry and, when it came to the point, Iocal Ministers could well refuse to allow their own men to take part. It would moreover be hard to persuade Turks and Caicos Ministers that help might ever be needed from outside. This therefore was an attractive idea but not a practical starter.

c) Special constabularies

The OPA welcomed the plan to set these up, but they were little more than an aid to a regular force that was credible in itself and could only perform relief as opposed to operational duties.

d) A guard ship This would be an attempt to replace SNOWI. The MOD would not station RN ships permanently in the Caribbean. It Pould therefore be necessary for the islands to buy and run their own ship which could make routine visits to the islands, help with disaster relief and be available when needed to help maintain law and order. But the cost would be enormous and this could not be financed from the aid programme. If the money were somehow found, local politicians might find it difficult to agree on the ships programme. Nevertheless, we should look further

into this and examine the likely organization and costs of a coastguard-type vessel.

18. It seemed that in practice there was no workable alternative to the steady improvement and expansion where necessary of local police forces because they were alone in a position to be deployed during the key first few days of any trouble. The problem here was money. Although CAGS were responsible for law and order it was the politicians who voted the budget. The Cayman Islands would probably agree to vote sufficient recurrent funds if they could be given development aid for the necessary buildings. Sir Bruce Greatbatch intimated that this could probably be accomm- odated. Anguillan Ministers were now aware of the need for a competent police force, and one not all recruited locally, but their attitude could soften as the memory of the February incidents faded. Montserrat probably post the greatest difficult- ies since there was no reserve legislative power to pass a budget

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5 CONFIDENTIAL