Retired chief’s Caribbean beat
THE chief constable of the UK’s geographically largest and most rural police forces has swapped his beat for a life 4,000 miles away in the Caribbean.
Mark Collins retired from his role as chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police earlier this spring and has taken on a new job in the British Virgin Islands.
Mr Collins was sworn in as commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police on April 19 and will now work with the Governor, John Rankin, to keep the islands safe and secure.
His first priority will be to continue the battle against serious and organised crime which plague the island as one of the world’s most popular tax havens.
Mr Collins said: “My main priority going forward will be the security of the islands and the continuing battle against serious and organised crime, which seeks to make the islands an unwelcoming environment for groups wishing to engage in any of the aforementioned criminal activities.”
It’s quite a change of scenery for the Welsh officer, who started his 35-year long police career in 1985 as a special constable with Sussex Police in 1985.
He returned to his home force in 1987 and continued to volunteer on the front line until joining the Metropolitan Police in 1991.
When Mr Collins retired this year, it was his fifth year as chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police. He admitted that his time as chief hadn’t “all been easy” and had come with plenty of challenges.
Ahead of his move to life on the British overseas territory, which is made up of four larger islands – Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke – and around 50 smaller islands and cays, Mr Collins said: “I couldn’t have hoped for more as a chief than the time I have spent back in my home force, something that was unimaginable during my time as a special constable here more than 30 years ago.”
On his new appointment Mr Collins said: “I very much look forward to starting my new role as commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and serving the people of BVI.”
His Excellency the Governor Augustus Jaspert, who appointed Mr Collins, said: “I am delighted that Mr Collins has accepted the position of commissioner of police. He will bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the role.”
My main priority going forward will be the security of the islands and the continuing battle against serious and organised crime Royal Virgin Islands Police commissioner Mark Collins