In a surprising turn of events, Her Excellency Sarah Tucker, the Governor of Montserrat, has revoked the appointment of Robin Hall as Commissioner of Police for the Royal Montserrat Police Service. This decision comes as Hall has been absent from duty since early March, with various police personnel from different British Overseas Territories temporarily taking on his responsibilities.
A press release from the Governor’s Office dated March 28, 2024, attributed Hall’s unexpected absence to unforeseen operational policing matters. However, a subsequent press release today clarified that Commissioner Hall left Montserrat on March 9 to attend a UK policing training course, and upon realizing his inability to return, the Governor enacted his dismissal in accordance with the standard procedure for departing commissioners.
The revocation of Hall’s appointment, effective March 31, 2024, was officially confirmed in the Governor’s Official Gazette on March 27, 2024. Governor Sarah Tucker exercised her authority under the Montserrat Constitution Order 2010 and the Police Act to effectuate the dismissal.
Simultaneously, Mr. Alexander Enriles from the Royal Gibraltar Police has been sworn in as the Acting Commissioner of Police for the RMPS, effective from Saturday, April 20. Governor Tucker expressed gratitude to Police Commissioners across the Overseas Territories for their support during this transitional phase.
While Governor Tucker acknowledged the inherent challenges of leadership changes, she highlighted the benefits of officers gaining and sharing experience across territories. She welcomed Mr. Enriles and affirmed her commitment to the ongoing development of the Royal Montserrat Police Service workforce.
However, amid these developments, there has been public concern about the perceived lack of succession planning within Montserrat’s Police Service. Questions have been raised about why a local police officer could not be appointed to the role, emphasizing the need for transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes.
In today’s press release, Governor Tucker underscored that the Governor’s Office is actively recruiting a new Deputy Commissioner of Police, following the departure of Mr. Thompson to assume the role of Chief Immigration Officer. Additionally, plans are underway for a recruitment campaign to appoint a new Commissioner of Police, aiming to address public concerns and establish a more robust succession plan for the future.
We will closely monitor this story for further developments.
