Vetting of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force will continue despite a draft court order pausing enforcement actions, Governor Daniel Pruce said in a statement Friday, Aug. 29, stressing that the process remains essential to ensuring integrity, public trust and national security.

Governor Pruce said his office has received a draft court order that allows officers to continue submitting vetting forms but temporarily halts enforcement measures for incomplete or missing forms until the court issues its final decision later this year. “Meanwhile, the vetting process remains open and ongoing, just without the ability to apply those enforcement provisions foreseen in the regulations,” he said.

As of this month, about 100 officers — more than a third of the 270-member force — have submitted their vetting forms, the governor said. He acknowledged that some officers have expressed concerns over the personal nature of the questions but emphasized that vetting is necessary to ensure integrity within the police force, protect officers from vulnerabilities, and build public trust.

“The whole point of the vetting process is to enable us to have awareness within the force, and confidence that officers meet the standards that we all expect of them,” Mr. Pruce said. He added that the process does not request passwords, PINs or login credentials, clarifying public concerns.

The governor also provided an update on the Law Enforcement Review conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. The two-volume report, published in June 2024 and April 2025, sets out a ten-year roadmap for improving law enforcement and criminal justice in the territory. Governor. Pruce said that about half of the recommendations have been initiated, with 20 percent completed and 30 percent in progress.

Lawmakers have raised concerns about some of the 375 recommendations in the second volume, and Governor. Pruce said he expects to meet with Premier Natalio Wheatley in the coming days to address a small percentage that require further consideration due to resource, political or constitutional implications.

He added that security reforms, including vetting and the review, are essential for national stability and prosperity. “Vetting protects the integrity of the police force; it strengthens the trust of the public and it preserves our national security,” Mr. Pruce said.

Governor. Pruce also highlighted preparations for next month’s Anti-Crime Summit, calling it an opportunity to involve government agencies, civil society and the wider community in addressing crime prevention. “The challenges we face in the Virgin Islands are not challenges we can solve by arresting and imprisoning people,” he said. “We need a whole-of-government, whole-of-community effort.”

The governor extended condolences to the families of Jamal Jones and Trevecca Hodge, both long-serving public officers who recently passed away.