Eight officers from the Armed Response Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force recently completed a six-week “Close Protection Training” course conducted by the Bermuda police.
The first cohort of four officers started the training in July, and the second group began in September, according to a press release from the Police Information Office.
The officers are the first from the territory to undergo the training.
During the session, they were assessed on four “core protection principals,” according to the PIO: reacting spontaneously, providing effective body cover, neutralising threats, and “showing consideration for the principal.”
The training also focused on close protection and tactical shooting, safety training, vehicle tactics, convoy driving, route planning and other areas.
All of the officers are now trained to the international standard for close protection, and were tested through real-time scenarios involving the Bermuda governor and health minister, according to the press release.
The skills they learned will help the force offer better service to high-ranking officials and the public at large, police said.
“It is important the RVIPF stays at the forefront of the latest capabilities developed for policing at an international level,” Police Commissioner Michael Matthews said. “This training will equip the force going forward to provide a broader range of policing [response] and ensure the safety and security of high profile visitors to the territory.”
