👮‍♂️ New police commissioner calls for growth in Cayman Islands police force

Recently appointed Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), Kurt Walton, has called for the growth of the police force to keep pace with the increasing population, traffic, and evolving crime landscape. Walton, a seasoned police officer, outlined his vision for the future of policing in the Cayman Islands during a press conference, emphasizing the need for increased budgets to support the growing demands on the service. The government has already spent around $52 million on policing this year, a figure set to rise next year due to the escalating costs of security. 🏦

Walton highlighted the need for funding in areas such as child protection, cyber-crime, and the expansion of the coastguard and traffic units. He stressed that as the Cayman Islands community grows, so too must the RCIPS. The commissioner is committed to transparent and responsible spending, acknowledging the need for increased headcount, equipment, technology, and support networks. Walton also emphasized the importance of a caring, collaborative, and accountable police service, and the need for the RCIPS to be accountable for its growing budget. 🚓

Looking to the future, Walton pointed out that policing and crime evolve as society changes. He highlighted emerging concerns such as criminality associated with cryptocurrency, challenges presented by AI, online crimes, and the need for child safeguarding on the web. The commissioner made it clear that government funding for the RCIPS would need to increase to meet these evolving demands. Walton also revealed plans to invite the Cambridgeshire police service in the UK to review the RCIPS and provide feedback on areas of improvement. 🕵️‍♂️