Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to second UK police officers to the British Overseas Territories.

Officials have been working closely with the FCDO and UK policing colleagues as well as our partners across the British Overseas Territories to identify police requirements and support. While there have been and are instances of deploying UK officers (see Annex A), all considerations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. When UK police officers are not available or not the most appropriate response, retired officers have been contracted into operational or support roles. In addition, UK officers regularly deploy in a training capacity as part of a wider and longer-term HO Overseas Territories Police Strategy.

Annex A: Examples of UK Police Deployments

Turks and Caicos Islands – Devon and Cornwall Police (Sept 21 – Feb 22)

UK police staff seconded for six months to provide analytical support in relation to serious organised crime.

Anguilla – British Transport Police (Sept 22 – Dec 22)

UK officer seconded to establish an intelligence led policing business model and to improve crime investigation performance and capability.

Montserrat - Suffolk Police (Oct 22- Nov 23)

UK officer seconded for 12 months to develop RMPS capabilities for leadership and demand management.

British Virgin Islands – Dyfed Powys Police (Oct 22 – Apr 23)

UK officer seconded for 6 months to lead the modernisation of the BVIPF Marine Unit capabilities.

Montserrat – Hertfordshire Police (March 2023 – December 2023)

UK officer seconded for 9 months as interim Commissioner of Police. March 2023 – December 2023

Turks and Caicos Islands – South Yorkshire Police (November 2022 – Feb 2023)

UK officer seconded for 3 months to provide investigative support and assist the command team in responding to critical incidents, leadership development and management of local processes and operations.

Falkland Islands – Police Scotland (Oct 23 – Jan 24)

Two officers seconded to provide assistance with leadership stability and assist with transformational work regarding recruitment of new officers to Royal Falklands Islands Police