At 45, newly-appointed Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, is one of the youngest Anguillian to head the island’s law enforcement agency. Known to be a keen sportsman and to have come from a humble background in the Farrington Village, he has 27 years of policing and a high degree of training and experience. Though steeped in humility, the popular lawman told reporters that he could be tough when his job demanded it, but quite open and understanding when that posture was required. (He succeeds Mr. Keithly Benjamin who retired at the end of April and took up a new appointment as Junior Magistrate.)

Governor Harrison Swearing-In Mr. Proctor

Mr. Proctor was speaking shortly after his appointment was announced at a press conference held on Monday this week, at the Executive Council Chambers, by Governor Alistair Harrison who has responsibility for the Royal Anguilla Police Force.

The Governor commented that he was delighted to make the appointment. The post was advertised and attracted a good field of candidates from Anguilla and the region. Mr. Proctor had shown himself to be the best candidate from a shortlist of those interviewed. The Public Service Commission endorsed his appointment in the process of consultation before the Governor’s appointment as required by the Police Act.

Governor Harrison said it was particularly pleasing to make the appointment from the ranks of the Royal Anguilla Police Force which Mr. Proctor had served for 27 years during which he had risen from the rank of constable to Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Proctor along with Governor Harrison surrounded by Senior Officers of the Force

The Governor wished the new Commissioner and the Royal Anguilla Police Force well in their efforts to contain crime on the island, including the challenges of financial crime, drugs and illegal weapons. He assured Mr. Proctor of his continuing full support for the Force.

The appointment of the Commissioner is at the discretion of the Governor, following consultations with the Public Service Commission. The shortlisted candidates were interviewed by a panel comprising the Governor, Deputy Governor and the Police Adviser for the Overseas Territories. They unanimously recommended the appointment of Mr. Proctor. The Governor also consulted the Executive Council informally at various stages of the appointment process.

The vacant posts of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent (Operations) will now be advertised.

Answering reporters’ questions, Mr. Proctor said that in going forward and dealing with some of the emerging crimes in the Anguillian society, there would be a need to build the capacity of the Force. “Training is going to be important,” he stated. “As far as financial crime investigation is concerned, we have to train more officers to get more expertise within that area in order to analyse some of the information received in that department.”

Mr. Proctor was grateful to all citizens throughout the island who worked closely with him and who contributed to him in his development as a police officer. “I know that in any modernized, civilized and democratic society the job of Commissioner of Police is not an easy one, because even those for whom you put your life on the line, at times tend to be very critical and do not show any appreciation for what you are doing. I came from the beginnings, and that is where I intend to take this job, working for the smallest man to the largest in society to ensure that his concerns are taken into account and the appropriate action is taken.”

The Commissioner went on: “I want to thank all my colleagues, all the former Commissioners and Deputies who, over the years, have worked with me and helped me to be a successful Police Officer and shaped my policing career. I want to say to the Anguillian public that the same effort, enthusiasm and commitment that I have had over the years through the various ranks of the Force, is the same attitude and work ethic that I bring to this position.”

Mr. Proctor, referring to himself as an example of success, extended an invitation to young Anguillians to become members of the Force. “I have been lucky as a young Police Officer to have had good supervisors who, from a very early stage in my policing, identified certain qualities in me and worked towards developing them,” he stressed. “That could happen for any other young person. Today policing is not like yesterday. To solve crimes now, there is a need to have officers with a scientific background. Young people coming out of school can go on to train and then return to work in a police environment. There are a number of things that modern policing require. We will need people who are technically skilled to deal with cyber crime, intelligence-gathering and dissemination of information. So young people in Anguilla, with good qualifications, can start thinking about joining the Force. Its future depends heavily on those persons.”

Mr. Proctor pledged that he would include all members of his staff, and all stakeholders supporting the Force, in the policy and strategy development of the law enforcement body. Replying to a reporter’s comment about his quality of humility, he stated: “As you quite rightly said, I am a humble person, but I can be tough when it demands that, and I am quite open and understanding when it needs that as well.”

Governor Harrison concluded his press conference by saying to the reporters: “Thank you very much indeed for coming, and I would like to say again how delighted I am to announce the appointment of Rudi Proctor as the new Commissioner of Police. I sense that that delight is shared very much more widely from your reaction.”

At three o’clock in the afternoon, the Governor swore in Mr. Proctor as Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, in the presence of many of his senior colleagues and other officers at Police Headquarters.

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