Six police officers from the Cayman Islands and Bermuda will be supporting the Royal Montserrat Police Service during this year’s St Patrick’s Festival.
This will take place under a process known as mutual aid, where forces from the region support each other during their periods of peak demand, a statement from the police service said on 7 March.
The officers were sworn in yesterday at the Royal Montserrat Police Service headquarters and will be staying in Montserrat until the end of the festival.
Commissioner of Police Mark Payne said he was delighted to welcome officers from the overseas territories to support police service during the busiest period of the year.
“The officers are really pleased to be here, and we have spent time bringing them up to speed with our local laws and customs,” he said.
The police commissioner insisted the additional support does not mean any increase in trouble or problems is expected over the festival period.
“It is just to make sure that we have enough officers to deliver normal policing at the same time as we manage the festival events,” he said.
He thanked the governor’s and police commissioners in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda for their support.
This year’s St Patrick’s Festival is taking place from 8 to 17 March and will include events such as the St Patrick’s Day jouvert, St Patrick’s Day parade, Heritage Day and Junior Calypso Monarch.
The Royal Montserrat Police Service can be contacted at (664) 491-2555 or (664) 491-2556.
