The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and public safety officials, counselors, parents, educators and concerned citizens in Tortola and Virgin Gorda took part in a three-day training session on gang awareness and anti-gang measures presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands Anti-Gang Committee, according to a press release from Project Safe Neighborhoods.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands Anti-Gang Committee in cooperation with members of Project Safe Neighborhoods, U.S.V.I. and the Virgin Islands Police Department provided training and educational seminars from Wednesday, June 15 through Friday, June 17, to anyone interested in making their community a safer place,” said St. Thomas coordinator and senior trainer Lavelle Campbell. “Gangs are showing their presence in the British Virgin Islands just like many of the Caribbean islands, and the sooner law enforcement and communities get the training and understanding of gangs, the sooner they can prevent the violence and crime associated with gang activities,” said Jaquan Freeman, chairperson for the U.S.V.I. Anti-Gang Committee.
With the B.V.I.’s concern over gang related crime, participants received the most current information on preventing, indentifying and combating gang activity in their neighborhoods from top locally recognized gang experts from the territory. Just over 120 officers of the Royal Virgin Islands police force, approximately 200 teachers and educators, and an estimated 400 communities and faith-based members attended the sessions.
The B.V.I. and U.S.V.I. partnership for anti-gang training and education was made possible through the efforts of Sergeant Ivor Fraser of the R.V.I.P.F. and U.S.V.I. Police commissioner Raymond Hyman. The Web site is www.viantigangconference.com