Crime/Police
Police Officer Paul France Found Dead In Submerged Vehicle
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has confirmed that Detective Paul France was found dead early this morning in a vehicle submerged in the sea behind the helicopter pad located behind the parking lot a short distance from the Queen Elizabeth Park 11 I in Road Town, Tortola.
France was a British citizen with close to forty years of service in the police forces in the United Kingdom and the British Virgin Islands.
Commissioner of Police Mark Collins, in an October 7 statement, said, “Detective France was a highly regarded member of our organization, and this tragedy profoundly saddens us. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.”
It was a man who went fishing in the area shortly after 8 am today, October 7, who observed the vehicle in the sea. He relayed what he saw to another person who arrived at the area shortly after. The second individual who, upon suspecting someone was in the vehicle, raised the alarm.
The RVIPF and Fire and Rescue were summoned and with the aid of one of the men, swam out.
“After a period of effort, they noticed an unresponsive male inside the vehicle. The lone male occupant was later recovered from the vehicle and declared deceased.” The RVIPF said.
The white Grand Vitara was subsequently fished from the sea.
Police Commissioner Collins has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Detective France’s family and expressed his gratitude to the members of the public who lent their support during this devastating incident.
The RVIPF is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Detective France.
Anyone with relevant information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.
A stabbing incident that occurred on May 12 at His Majesty’s Prison, resulted in inmate Shakeel Ryan being transported to Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, another individual has been apprehended and is currently being questioned at the Road Town Police Station.
Ryan, who is incarcerated for conspiracy to murder, remained hospitalised at the time of publication.
Circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
The East End Police Station, previously closed due to ongoing sewerage works, is set to reopen its doors today, Friday, May 3.
The closure had been necessitated by sewerage works conducted by the Government of the Virgin Islands in the station’s parking lot.
Despite the station’s closure, law enforcement services in the East End district remained uninterrupted, with officers maintaining 24/7 patrols to ensure community safety. Residents were encouraged to contact officers directly at 368-9704 for immediate assistance or to report emergencies.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding during this time,” stated a spokesperson for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
With the reopening of the East End Police Station, residents can once again rely on the presence of local law enforcement for their safety and security needs.
Following a tip-off received on Thursday, April 25th, the Department of Immigration has activated a coordinated effort to locate suspected illegal migrants, with Peter Island emerging as a focal point in the ongoing investigation.
Prompted by this information, the Department of Immigration engaged HM Customs and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to form a Joint Task Force. Their collaborative efforts have been directed towards Peter Island, where two Indian nationals have already been apprehended. However, it is suspected that additional migrants, possibly of various nationalities, remain at large on the island.
Members of the Joint Task Force are committed to thoroughly conducting searches, not only on Peter Island but also across other potential locations, as authorities intensify efforts to locate the remaining migrants.
Anyone with relevant information should contact the Department of Immigration at 468-4705, 468-4717, 468-4754, or the RVIPF at 311.
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