Royal Montserrat Police Service Explained

Agencyname:Royal Montserrat Police Service
Abbreviation:RMPS
Flag:File:Flag of Montserrat.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of Montserrat
Formedyear:1967
Preceding1:Leeward Islands Police Force
Country:British Overseas Territories
Divtype:Police area
Divname:Montserrat
Sizearea:39 square miles[1]
Sizepopulation:4,649 (2018)[2]
Police:yes
Local:yes
Headquarters:Royal Montserrat Police Service, Government of Headquarters, Brades, P.O. Box 177, MSR 1110, Montserrat
Sworntype:Constable
Sworn:approx. 50
Chief1name:Mark Payne QPM MBA
Chief1position:Temporary Commissioner
Website:Official Website

The Royal Montserrat Police Service is the police service of the British Overseas Territory island of Montserrat in the Caribbean.

As of May 2024, the Commissioner of Police is Mark Payne QPM MBA, a career police officer of West Midlands Police in England. Mark retired from West Midlands Police in March 2024, where he served as Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of West Midlands Regional Counter Terrorism Unit.

History

The Police Force of Montserrat was a division of the Leeward Islands Police Force, which served Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, with headquarters in Antigua. The Leeward Islands Colony was dissolved in 1959 and the Montserrat Police Force became a division of the Antigua, Montserrat, and British Virgin Islands Police Force. The Royal Title was bestowed on the force in 1966, and The Royal Montserrat Police Service became autonomous on 27 February 1967.

Between the years 1967 and 2007, there was one Chief of Police and ten Commissioners of Police from countries such as United Kingdom, Guyana, St Kitts-Nevis and even native islanders.

The police service also ran a football team that played in the Montserrat Championship, the top level of football on the island. They were the most successful club winning the league four times.

The RMPS celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2017, having been disbanded from the Leeward Islands Police Force in 1967.[3]

Structure and Duties

The RMPS is a civilian, local police force and has authority to uphold the King's peace throughout the territory. The RMPS website states that their duty is:

Departments/Units

The RMPS is divided into five main departments, each with a specific function.[5]

These are:

Rank structure

The management rank structure of the RMPS follows that of most UK and British Overseas Territories.[6]

The Commissioner (head of the service) is assisted by a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Superintendent of Operations.[7]

New "Recognition Ranks"

New "Marine Unit Ranks"

Special Constables

The RMPS employs special constables to assist regular constables, or to act as specialists and support regulars on 'Special Duty Police Assignments', if necessary.[9]

Uniforms and Equipment

The RMPS employs a variety of staff & constables and each have different types of uniform and equipment, to perform their duties effectively.

Uniform

RMPS uniform is typical of British & Caribbean police forces' uniforms, with several different types for different duties, ranks and seasons. It is modelled on other UK and British Overseas Territories police uniforms.

Formal Uniform

The formal uniform is for ceremonial and important occasions, such as Remembrance Days, VE Day celebrations, Royal events,[10] etc.

It consists of:

"Blues"

This is similar to the British Army's No. 2/service dress uniform.

"Whites"

This uniform is similar to the British Army's No. 3 (Tropical) Dress, which is the most formal.

Notes

"Undress" Uniform

The undress uniform is the uniform that is worn by police officers for non-formal and non-arduous work, such as everyday work, travelling, patrolling, attending meetings etc. It is similar to the British Army's No. 6 (Warm Weather) Barrack Dress and is 'stone' coloured.

It consists of:

Notes

Operational Uniform

The operational uniform for officers is either the "Undress" uniform (see above) (with additional equipment, e.g. yellow traffic vest) or a similar uniform, but with a white shirt and black trousers, rather than stone coloured shirt/trousers.

Police Equipment

The RMPS uses a variety of equipment, such as radios, handcuffs and yellow traffic vests.[15] [16] The staple British police whistle-on-chain is worn on the chest/left pocket area of most uniforms.

Firearms

The RMPS are generally unarmed, but for some formal parades some weapons are carried, such as:

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://police.gov.ms/8-2/
  2. https://statistics.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FINAL-REPORT-KEY-FINDINGS-CENSUS-LABOUR-FORCE-SURVEY-2018-.pdf
  3. Web site: Royal Montserrat Police Service - Royal Montserrat Police Service . 11 December 2008 . 13 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200813094549/http://police.gov.ms/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Royal Montserrat Police Service - Royal Montserrat Police Service . 11 December 2008 . 13 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200813094549/http://police.gov.ms/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS) .
  6. http://police.gov.ms/8-2/#
  7. http://police.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Organisational-Chart-Police-3.jpg
  8. Web site: Royal Montserrat Police Force /.
  9. http://police.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Marine-Tech-Special-Constable-2014.pdf
  10. https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Montserrat-Police-Service-1464208687234758/photos/2911963289125950
  11. https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Montserrat-Police-Service-1464208687234758/photos/2911963289125950
  12. Web site: Montserrat's Police Service has six new officers – Deputy Governor pays Courtesy Call. 9 December 2011.
  13. https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Montserrat-Police-Service-1464208687234758/photos/2911963289125950
  14. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Royal Montserrat Police Service AFIX Tracker Training Closing Ceremony February 12, 2020 . YouTube.
  15. Web site: limited . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1464208687234758/2890303694625243 . 2022-04-30. Royal Montserrat Police Service on Facebook . Facebook.
  16. https://themontserratreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_2731.jpg
  17. Web site: Montserrat's Police Service has six new officers – Deputy Governor pays Courtesy Call. 9 December 2011.
  18. Web site: limited . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1464208687234758/2763874070601540 . 2022-04-30. Royal Montserrat Police Service on Facebook . Facebook.