Ten members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force are undergoing four weeks of special training in close protection services. According to the course outline, the training is a direct response to a request from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
The training is being delivered by five facilitators. They are Inspector Valence Holder, Sergeant Michael Thomas and Constable Brian Macnab of the Bermuda Police Service; and Sergeant Richard Laws and Constable Andrew Dickson of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. They are being assisted by two Co-Facilitators: Sergeant Eversley Browne and Detective Ralph Johnson of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
The course outline pointed out that there was a real and immediate need for the training due to the lack of trained protection officers; a lack of organisational training resources; and the need to perform armed protection services throughout Anguilla.
At the opening ceremony on Monday, October 20, chaired by Inspector Emris Rogers, Governor Christina Scott told the participants that the course was an intensive one.
“I have been looking at the list of areas you will be covering over the coming weeks,” she went on. “You are getting a fantastic exposure and training across a wide range of disciplines. It is really important that the Royal Anguilla Police Force has this [training] at its disposal. Just this summer we have had a range of very high dignitaries visiting Anguilla – when we think about the big legal seminars we have had with every Judge in the Eastern Caribbean on this island. We have high-powered visitors from the United States occasionally, coming both in a personal and official capacity. Having the skills on the island to be prepared to deal with whatever issues might arise is extremely important.”
The Governor added that police officers put themselves in danger almost on a daily basis and that this was particularly challenging to them. She hoped that the training would be valuable and a real asset to them in the course of their work.
Commissioner of Police, Mr Rudolph Proctor, said “Close Protection Officer Training” was an area in which the Anguilla Police Force had been lacking over the years. He continued: “We see from the course outline that there are a lot of areas which we need to cover in order to deliver the service to dignitaries visiting Anguilla, as well as protecting and keeping those on the island safe. We are happy that our facilitators [from Bermuda and the Cayman Islands] are here, bringing their experience and skills to impart to our officers over the next couple of weeks.”
The Commissioner thanked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – through the Law Enforcement Adviser, Mr Larry Covington – and fellow Commissioners of the Bermuda and Cayman Islands Police Service, for supporting and funding the training.
Addressing his officers, Mr Proctor stated: “This course can only be for your benefit in carrying out your functions – the benefit of the Royal Anguilla Police Force and that of the Anguilla community on a whole. I want you to give your undivided attention to the training, and the Senior Management of the Force will make it possible that there will be no interruptions during the course so that you can absorb the full extent of the knowledge and skills being delivered. There are many challenges that we face, as law enforcement officers, in protecting our community and key figures, as there are so many people in the world today prepared to commit evil and violent acts. We must be on top of our job at all times – hence this training.”
The course outline was given by Inspector Valence Holder of the Bermuda Police Service. He said personal protection was a big service in the world and that although there were low risks of terrorism in the Caribbean, persons coming to the region could certainly increase those risks. In addition, he said there were persons in the local communities who were not on the side of law enforcement, and there was a need to be able to deal with such a threat.
He explained that the course would include some foundation training in protection work, followed by various aspects of safety training as well as scenario-based training. “Our job is to make sure that you succeed…We will give you all that we have…and we hope that you will come up with a 100 percent pass – that’s what we are aiming for,” he added.
The ten officers selected for the training are Sergeant Randolph Yearwood; Police Constables Helmert Mason; Edson Charles; St Teval Duke; Ichol Mockett; Michael Douglas; Marius Daniel; Teddy Joseph; Shem Wills; and Woman Police Constable Shannette Bricoe Mcdowall.
