Thursday, June 7 – BVI police are joining delegates from around the region for a two-day conference on special branch operations, which is taking place this week on Tortola.

His Excellency Governor David Pearey on Wednesday opened the Conference of Caribbean Heads of Special Branches, which is being held at Prospect Reef Resort. Eighteen delegates from around the region are attending the meeting.

The Governor said the conference reflects the fact that law enforcement agencies around the region must work together to combat crimes such as drug trafficking, arms trading, people trafficking and money laundering. He said these threats affect every Caribbean country and territory.

“Facing a common threat, the only sensible approach is to share experiences, skills and resources and so emerge the stronger in our collective response to the collective problem,” the Governor said.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Reynell Frazer told delegates that criminals do not respect international borders, so regional law enforcement agencies must be prepared to work together to combat crime.

“Law enforcement must work equally well across borders as we do within our own borders. Not only must police forces integrate operations between nations, but we must also include customs, immigration, private securities, as well as the military and intelligence communities within the region and around the world,” the Commissioner said.

Delegates to the conference, which concludes today, were to discuss a number of topics, including efforts to curtail money laundering and terrorism in the region and around the world. The theme of the meeting is “Globalisation and its impact on regional security.”