Plans are being considered to increase penalties for gun crimes in the Virgin Islands as police warn that the prevalence of illegal firearms in the Territory remains deeply concerning.
Interim Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger said the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is working with the National Security Council (NSC) on possible tougher sentences to provide a stronger deterrent.
“We’re looking at doing some work with the National Security Council for increasing sentences, so giving the courts more leeway in respect of making it more of a deterrent,” Ullger said on radio earlier this week.
He added: “So that people understand that they’ll go to prison for a longer time for being in possession of firearms. They’ll think twice about it.”
Penalties under the Firearms and Air Guns Act vary according to the offence. Serious offences, including possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or carrying one to commit an indictable offence, can attract a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Ullger said gun crime is placing pressure on both the police force and the wider Territory, with officers already seizing 18 illegal firearms this year.
“Whether we like it or not, gun crime for such a small territory is rife. We can’t hide from the fact that there are a lot of illegal firearms,” he stated.
“This year, we’ve already seized 18 illegal firearms in our Territory. Therefore, it is worrying because people are using firearms either for their own protection illegally or to facilitate crime.”
The top cop also linked the illegal weapons trade to drugs and the Territory’s proximity to jurisdictions with more liberal firearm laws.
“We can’t hide from the fact that these guns are associated with drugs, and it’s associated with the liberal laws that are very close to us, the US Virgin Islands, for example, where gun laws are a lot more lax than ours,” Ullger said.
The RVIPF recently established a specialised team focused on detecting illegal firearms.
“The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force only a few months ago created a team concentrating all our efforts on trying to detect illegal weapons and bring those people to justice,” Ullger explained.
He said considerable work is taking place behind the scenes but stressed that tackling illegal firearms cannot be left to the police alone.
“This is not only a matter for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. It’s a matter for us as a community,” Ullger declared.
Interim Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger said the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is working with the National Security Council (NSC) on possible tougher sentences to provide a stronger deterrent.
“We’re looking at doing some work with the National Security Council for increasing sentences, so giving the courts more leeway in respect of making it more of a deterrent,” Ullger said on radio earlier this week.
He added: “So that people understand that they’ll go to prison for a longer time for being in possession of firearms. They’ll think twice about it.”
Penalties under the Firearms and Air Guns Act vary according to the offence. Serious offences, including possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or carrying one to commit an indictable offence, can attract a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Ullger said gun crime is placing pressure on both the police force and the wider Territory, with officers already seizing 18 illegal firearms this year.
“Whether we like it or not, gun crime for such a small territory is rife. We can’t hide from the fact that there are a lot of illegal firearms,” he stated.
“This year, we’ve already seized 18 illegal firearms in our Territory. Therefore, it is worrying because people are using firearms either for their own protection illegally or to facilitate crime.”
The top cop also linked the illegal weapons trade to drugs and the Territory’s proximity to jurisdictions with more liberal firearm laws.
“We can’t hide from the fact that these guns are associated with drugs, and it’s associated with the liberal laws that are very close to us, the US Virgin Islands, for example, where gun laws are a lot more lax than ours,” Ullger said.
The RVIPF recently established a specialised team focused on detecting illegal firearms.
“The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force only a few months ago created a team concentrating all our efforts on trying to detect illegal weapons and bring those people to justice,” Ullger explained.
He said considerable work is taking place behind the scenes but stressed that tackling illegal firearms cannot be left to the police alone.
“This is not only a matter for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. It’s a matter for us as a community,” Ullger declared.
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