Crime/Police
Allegations of Evidence Tampering within RVIPF Spark Concerns
Concerned Citizen Advocates for Police Commissioner’s Removal, Urging Independent Investigation
British Virgin Islands Governor John Rankin has received a letter from a concerned citizen for the removal of Police Commissioner Mark Collins to facilitate an impartial and independent investigation into serious allegations, including the tampering of evidence, against the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
The November 2 letter, penned by the concerned citizen stated that “concerns were initially raised in 2023 when allegations were made of an email from the office of the Commissioner of Police of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) which was sent to St. Clair Amory, O’Neal Bakker and Cc: to Jacquelyn Vanterpool circulating within the Virgin Islands and the international world. As it relates to a discussion surrounding the arrest and charge of a police officer the matter was discussed by the Commissioner of Police with the DPP and stated that: “The matter has been discontinued by the DPP”. The Commissioner gave certain instructions and various decisions were made by the Commissioner of Police for the evidence to be destroyed and should the video footage be released in the public domain there will be a PSD investigation.”
The leaked email not only raised questions about the internal workings of the RVIPF but also created a public relations crisis. Commissioner Collins when questioned about the email during a recent press conference did not deny its authenticity.
This raised further concerns about the credibility of the RVIPF and its leadership. The concerned citizen points to several other key issues, including the discrepancies in the treatment of officers and joint criminal conspiracy.
“Allegations are made against subordinate Police officers for committing disciplinary or criminal offences and they are being interdicted and removed from office by the Commissioner of Police, during which period of interdiction an investigation is being conducted, and if there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation, then criminal charges will be brought against the officers.”
The correspondence added: “Similarly, the same principle applied to those officers should apply to the Commissioner of Police and those other gazetted officers whose names were mentioned in the email and the office of the DPP, in accordance with equality before the law; they should be afforded the same opportunity to face justice under the criminal justice system.”
The letter stressed that the Commissioner of Police does not possess any legal authority to eliminate evidence in criminal proceedings, as there is no statutory law granting such power.
“There is no statutory law authorising the Commissioner of Police to destroy any evidence in criminal proceedings. The Commissioner has no statutory authority to give instructions to any subordinate Police officers as to the destruction of evidence in any criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Therefore, evidence can only be destroyed by an order made by a court of law.”
“For those very same reasons stated I am of the opinion and have been supported by the statutory law that the Commissioner of Police should be interdicted or removed from office to have a fair and transparent investigation into this matter.”
“I am quite confident that this is not what you want from members of His Majesty’s Royal Virgin Police Force. So I am calling on you to conduct an investigation into the allegations independent of the Commissioner Mr Mark Collin, Deputy Commissioner Mr. St. Clair Amory and Ms. Jacquelyn Vanterpool.”
Collins attended the press conference on Thursday, October 12, 2023, initiated by Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). During the conference, Collins asserted that the situation was deemed “an internal matter” by the authorities, emphasizing that he had “nothing to hide.” He clarified that the issue revolved around a conflict between two officers and a leaked email he was aware of.
“I will be very clear; it was not evidence related to a particular case. It was between two individual officers, one who threatened to release something about another officer, and I told him not to do it and if he did do it there would be an investigation.”
Police are urgently searching for the driver involved in a dramatic hit-and-run collision that left a female pedestrian injured after she was struck and flung into the air along the Dual Carriage Highway Thursday night.
According to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), the incident occurred shortly after 8:00 p.m. on February 19, 2026, in the vicinity of Delta Gas Station in Pasea Estate.
Preliminary reports indicate that the woman was crossing the eastbound lane of the roadway when she was struck by a vehicle traveling west to east. Although the driver reportedly attempted to brake, the vehicle was unable to avoid impact. The force of the collision sent the pedestrian airborne before she crashed onto the roadway.
In a troubling development, the vehicle did not stop. Instead, the driver fled the scene immediately after the collision, leaving the injured woman lying on the highway.
Emergency Medical Services responded swiftly and transported the victim to Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital for treatment. Her condition remains unknown at this time.
The RVIPF has launched an active investigation into the hit-and-run and is appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could help identify the vehicle or driver involved.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS).
Police say further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, working alongside other law enforcement partners, intercepted a vessel and recovered a quantity of illegal narcotics during a joint operation last night, December 8, police said.
In a brief statement, the RVIPF confirmed that the operation resulted in the seizure of the drugs but did not disclose the type or quantity recovered. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and described it as dynamic, noting that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Premier Hon. Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley criticised Governor Daniel Pruce’s appointment of Richard Ulger as interim acting police commissioner, saying the decision sidestepped the established process and failed to respect the advice of the Police Service Commission.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 21, Wheatley said the Police Service Commission had already submitted a recommendation for a substantive Police Commissioner and that this recommendation is expected to come before the National Security Council soon. The Governor’s decision, he argued, pre-empted that process and created unnecessary tension around a critical public-security appointment.
“In my view, it would have been better to conclude that process before appointing an interim acting commissioner,” Wheatley said. “The Police Service Commission has made a recommendation, and that recommendation should have been allowed to proceed.”
The Premier also noted that Acting Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool was returned to her substantive post of Deputy Commissioner after serving as Commissioner for one year. While acknowledging that Governor Pruce acted within his constitutional authority, Wheatley expressed concern about how the authority was used.
“Though the Governor is within his constitutional rights, I am concerned that the way his discretion has been exercised is not in keeping with the modern partnership that the United Kingdom has committed to,” he said. “The process has been poorly handled and does not reflect transparency, good governance, or sensitivity to the legitimate concerns of the people of the Virgin Islands.”
The decision follows a week of public demonstrations, during which residents peacefully protested what they viewed as political overreach. Wheatley said he and his colleagues in the House of Assembly supported the public’s right to assemble. “Persons exercised their democratic right to assemble and peacefully protest,” he said. “We respected and supported that right.”
Wheatley said he raised his concerns directly with Steven Doughty, the United Kingdom Minister for the Overseas Territories, during a call on Wednesday. He added that he has also been in ongoing dialogue with Governor Bruce through Cabinet and the National Security Council.
The Premier linked the controversy to a broader constitutional conversation in the Territory. “The handling of this matter underscores the importance of negotiating a constitution that provides greater democratic accountability to the people of the Virgin Islands,” he said. “This includes devolving more responsibility to the elected government, including responsibility for internal security.”
Wheatley is scheduled to depart the Territory on Friday for the Joint Ministerial Council meetings in London, which he will co-chair in his capacity as President of the Political Council of UK Overseas Territories. The JMC, hosted by Minister Doughty at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, is the highest-level annual forum for dialogue between Overseas Territory leaders and His Majesty’s Government.
This year’s meeting, he said, “forms part of a broader reset in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories.” The UK Government is expected to introduce a proposed Charter on Engagement, outlining new principles for transparency, communication, and collaboration. Leaders will also discuss bilateral compacts, long-term frameworks designed to strengthen planning and clarify shared priorities between the UK and participating territories.
Throughout the week, Overseas Territory leaders are scheduled to take part in plenary sessions, technical workshops, and political engagements covering security, development, governance, and economic planning. As Chair of the UK Overseas Territories Association, the Virgin Islands will play a central role in shaping collective positions.
Wheatley said he intends to continue voicing the concerns of Virgin Islanders at every level of discussion. “I will continue to engage in respectful dialogue with the Minister for the Overseas Territories and the Governor as we remain steadfast in defense of the security of the people of the Virgin Islands and their democratic rights,” he said.
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