The inability of the Royal Anguilla Police Force to respond quickly to calls from the public, and generally carry out effective patrol and surveillance duties across the island, should now be difficulties and complaints of the past.
Thanks to the arrival, handing over and immediate commissioning of four of the eight state-of-the- art 2015 Ford Explorer Inceptors which, all together, fetched a price of US three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The money is part of a capital aid grant of twelve million East Caribbean dollars from the British Government. The other four are expected to arrive in Anguilla shortly.
The four vehicles, on the island, were blessed by Bishop Brooks and handed over to Commissioner Rudolph Proctor on Monday, February 23, by Governor Christina Scott. “I think the first conversation I ever had with the Commissioner, was him telling me that the most pressing need for the RAPF was an additional fleet of vehicles,” she told invited guests. “I am so pleased that in the discussions the Commissioner had with Government – that they too recognised the importance of properly equipping the RAPF with new vehicles, and the Ministers decided that the money should be allocated from the UK capital grant of twelve million EC dollars towards this really important aim.”
The Governor said that the other four vehicles should arrive in Anguilla before the end of March. “They are really important assets now, which will help the RAPF in their visible community policing right across Anguilla. It is really important [for] these vehicles to send a strong message out in the community about the willingness of the RAPF to reach to all corners of the island.”
She exhorted the drivers of the vehicles “to take their responsibilities extremely careful because EXCO [the Executive Council] will not be impressed if there is a scratch on these vehicles in the months ahead.”
Minister of Infrastructure, Evan Gumbs, was pleased to represent the Anguilla Government at the presentation ceremony. “These vehicles are long overdue, and we trust that they will help our officers in their daily routine in combating crime,” he said. He thanked the Police for the services which they rendered despite limited resources.
Commissioner Proctor said that for three years his Department “functioned without a proper fleet of police vehicles which, in many ways, retarded our efforts as a law enforcement agency”. He stated that “as a result of this we were heavily criticised for late responses to crime reports, vehicular accidents and other emergences requiring our services.”
Proctor continued: “These new state-of-the-art police vehicles will go a long way in improving the image of the RAPF and the quality of service that the RAPF is providing to the Anguillian community. I wish to assure you that these vehicles will be used for the intended purpose which is the service and protection of the Anguillian community.”
The Commissioner added that the vehicles were fully adapted as police vehicles with beacon lights, VHS radios, secure prisoner compartments, secure rear doors and stabilisers.
The presentation ceremony was chaired by Acting Superintendent of Police, Ms Mava Brooks, who joined in expressing delight with the equipping of Force with the new fleet of purpose-built vehicles.
