4.
1
LAW AND ORDER
6. In 1978, police strength was about 50. Present numbers are
50% more, and the quality of the force far higher. Great credit
for this must go to Mr Bretherton, the present Chief of Police.
Early on, when I was concerned about the force, I requested its
inspection by the Colonial Police Adviser. His report described
it as "dispirited, demoralised and disaffected". Under
Bretherton there has been complete turnaround. The force is
now a credit to the system. Reverting to 1978, the Tortola
It
7
prison was then a blend of laughing stock and disgrace.
Conditions (now somewhat improved) were appalling. At the same
time, escapes were the rule rather than the exception.
seemed to me then that a major threat to BVI security could
emerge from a coming together of escaped convicts, local
Rastafarians and criminal and hooligan elements from the next
door US Virgin Islands. In the event, this very situation did
emerge. The police had to be specially armed, and ordered, if
necessary to shoot to kill. During an ambush, the ringleader
was shot dead and his second-in-command wounded and eventually
captured. Since then, in other lesser incidents, the police have
come out on top, and their standing is now high. The force can
certainly be counted upon to make good use of British support
in equipment, courses, visiting training and so on. I greatly
hope this will be forthcoming.
7.
The
Unfortunately, I cannot record similar improvements in the
Law Officer's Department. This has been unsatisfactory
virtually throughout my time, not least in recent months.
difficulty has been the political price tag, given the attitudes
of BVI Ministers, required to turn it around. Looking back to
well before my own time, I believe the Attorney-General post
should have been retained as an OSAS appointment for the duration
of Dependency. The total loyalty of the Attorney-General has to
be counted upon in emergency or times of stress. And during
/1981
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