Drones, Boats and Portable Scanner are just some of the law enforcement support that the United Kingdom has just announced that he would be sending to the Turks and Caicos Islands to combat crime, and to guard against fallout from Haiti.
The announcement came in the form of a joint statement between Minister in charge of the Overseas Territories MP David Rutley and Premier for the Turks and Caicos Islands Hon. Washington Misick.
The following is the joint statement from MP David Rutley and Premier Hon. Washinton Misick:
The United Kingdom (UK) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) governments remain concerned about the security situation in Haiti and its potential impact across the Caribbean region.
The UK will stand by the people of the TCI in response to this challenge, as well as linked drug trafficking and gun crime affecting the region.
At the request of the Governor last month, the UK dispatched firearms officers and additional officers to complement those already deployed from the UK to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) Serious Crime Squad.
A team from the UK Ministry of Defence, Home Office and UK Border Force has been urgently dispatched this week to assess what further support the TCI requires in addressing threats to national security following the deteriorating situation of Haiti.
Following a call yesterday morning, March 13, 2024 between Premier Charles Washington Misick, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Minister for Immigration and Border Services, Arlington Musgrove and the Minister of the Overseas Territories, David Rutley MP, the FCDO have agreed to source an additional marine patrol craft for the TCI.
A wider package of support has also been agreed, including:
● Policing equipment to support the RTCIPF to combat serious crime, including new capabilities on forensics, body worn cameras and CCTV.
● Border security upgrades to the TCI’s drone surveillance capability, portable scanners, new engines for Department of Environment and Coastal Resources vessels, and support for the implementation of electronic borders.
● A comprehensive new package of support to radically upgrade the TCI’s maritime domain awareness with a roll out of advanced coastal sensors through the support of the UK’s Joint Maritime Security Centre.