Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | RTCIPF |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1799 |
Jurisdictional structure | |
National agency | British Overseas Territories |
Operations jurisdiction | Turks and Caicos Islands, British Overseas Territories |
Location of Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (circled in red) | |
Size | 238 miles² |
Population | Approx 32,000 |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Grand Turk Island |
Constables | 225 full-time (plus special constables) |
Agency executive |
|
Facilities | |
Stations | 11 (9 community, 1 airport, 1 marine) |
Website | |
www |
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) is the national police force of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. It is one of the oldest police forces in the world.
The RTCIPF was formed in 1799, when John Dunmore was appointed 'High Constable', with three 'Special Constables' appointed to assist him in maintaining law and order throughout the island group. They were named the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, and have operated ever since. [1]
As the RTCIPF polices a British territory, but is also geographically closer to the United States (US), it is influenced by both in style and practice. Examples include traditional United Kingdom (UK) type uniforms and rank designations (from Constable to Commissioner), and the use of US type police vehicles, such as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. [2]
The force is headed by a Commissioner of Police, and is divided into two operational divisions: [1]
There are several specialist operational units, including a financial crime unit. There is a marine unit, equipped with inshore and ocean-going patrol vessels. [3]
There is also a tactical unit equipped with former PSNI armoured Land Rover Tangis. [4] The tactical unit is commanded by a Chief Superintendent. [4]
As a British Overseas Territory, at times of crisis the RTCIPF receives assistance from other agencies, such as the British Armed Forces. This happened in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, when the Standing Joint Force Headquarters Group (a tri-service support group of sailors, marines, soldiers, and airmen who support governments during crises [5] ) deployed to assist the police and TCI government. [6]
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has 225 full-time sworn police officers. In addition to this number, there are volunteer special constables, and also civilian (non-sworn) police support staff. [7]
The RTCIPF has a rank structure, that is similar to other British police forces. [8]
RTCIPF rank structure | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Commissioner | Deputy Commissioner | Assistant Commissioner | Acting Assistant Commissioner | Superintendent | Assistant Superintendent | Inspector | Sergeant | Constable |
Epaulette insignia |
The RTCIPF is a uniformed police force, with several orders of dress for different duties. The uniform and rank structure mirrors other British territories and United Kingdom forces in its look and approach. All officers, below the rank of Inspector, wear a unique identification number (known as a "Collar Number" after British early policeman wearing them on collars of uniforms) on all of their uniforms.
The RTCIPF have many uniforms for different duties. As one of the world's oldest police forces, with strong historical links to British military and police forces, their uniform traditions are thus heavily influenced by British uniforms. Comparisons are made below.
'Whites'
The most formal order of dress for police officers is (in British Army use - No. 3 dress) the warm weather ceremonial uniform ('whites'), which consists of: [9]
Males
Females
On the epaulette of the tunic, "RTCIPF" letters are worn to denote police. Rank for Sergeants is worn on the upper sleeve area and on the epaulettes for senior officers (inspectors and above).
The staple item of a British police officer; the whistle on a chain, is worn and held between buttons and top pocket. Medals (if any) are worn on the left breast.
On parade with weapons (most formal occasions [10] ), junior ranks carry rifles and more senior officers may carry swords or swagger sticks.
'Blues'
The alternate (and one level down) formal uniform is the dark blue service dress (in British Army use - No. 2 dress) which is similar to 'whites', except:
For everyday policing, the undress variants of the above are worn. This is the police version of the Army's No. 6 (warm weather bush jacket) uniform consisting of: [12]
This is generally worn for non-physical work (such as meetings, indoor work), but not for more practical work nor more formal parades.
This uniform is for everyday police work, such as patrolling and investigating. It consists of:
Equipment is worn on waist belts and rank is worn in the same way as above. [13] High visibility vests are worn for traffic-related work. [14]
This uniform is for police work that is physically demanding and needs a less smart, simpler approach, such as firearms work. It consists of:
Insignia is minimal, but "POLICE" in large letters is worn on the back of the shirt. Equipment is carried on the waist.
The RTCIPF uses typical police equipment, such as motor vehicles, radios and arrest equipment.
Some RTCIPF officers carry firearms. [15] This is less usual in most UK and British Overseas Territories police services/forces, but in some territories it is more common practice.
Because of its proximity to the US, the RTCIPF uses more US-style police vehicles, such as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, [2] these vehicles are marked, have red & blue flashing lights, the 911 emergency number and the police motto. [16] The tactical and marine units (see above) use armoured vehicles and boats respectively.
Mess dress uniform is the most formal type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, along with orders and medals insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In modern Western dress codes, mess dress uniform is the supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian black tie for evening wear. Mess dress uniforms are typically less formal than full dress uniform, but more formal than service dress uniform.
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong.
Imperial Japanese Army uniforms tended to reflect the uniforms of those countries who were the principal advisors to the Imperial Japanese Army at the time.
Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is the most formal type of uniforms used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, including private ones such as marriages and funerals. Full dress uniforms typically include full-size orders and medals insignia. Styles tend to originate from 19th century uniforms, although the 20th century saw the adoption of mess dress-styled full-dress uniforms. Designs may depend on regiment or service branch. In Western dress codes, full dress uniform is a permitted supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian white tie for evening wear or morning dress for day wear – sometimes collectively called full dress – although military uniforms are the same for day and evening wear. As such, full dress uniform is the most formal uniform, followed by the mess dress uniform.
The uniforms of the United States Navy include dress uniforms, daily service uniforms, working uniforms, and uniforms for special situations, which have varied throughout the history of the navy. For simplicity in this article, officers refers to both commissioned officers and warrant officers.
The uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.
The uniforms of the British Army currently exist in twelve categories ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress. Uniforms in the British Army are specific to the regiment to which a soldier belongs. Full dress presents the most differentiation between units, and there are fewer regimental distinctions between ceremonial dress, service dress, barrack dress and combat dress, though a level of regimental distinction runs throughout.
Service dress uniform is the informal type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday office, barracks and non-field duty purposes and sometimes for ceremonial occasions. It frequently consists of a jacket, trousers, dress shirt, and neck tie, along with orders, medals, and insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In Western dress codes, a service dress uniform is a permitted supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian suit—sometimes collectively called undress or "dress clothes". As such, a service dress uniform is considered less formal than both full dress and mess dress uniforms, but more formal than combat uniforms.
The modern Irish Army uniform is based on the layer principle, and is designed to provide soldiers in the Irish Army with the right degree of protection for any operational environment.
Service Dress is the style of khaki service dress uniform introduced by the British Army for use in the field from the early 1900s, following the experiences of a number of imperial wars and conflicts, including the Second Boer War. This variant of uniform continues to be worn today, although only in a formal role, as No. 2 Pattern dress.
The Royal Air Force uniform is the standardised military dress worn by members of the Royal Air Force. The predominant colours of Royal Air Force uniforms are blue-grey and Wedgwood blue. Many Commonwealth air forces' uniforms are also based on the RAF pattern, but with nationality shoulder flashes. The Royal Air Force Air Cadets wear similar uniforms.
The uniforms of the United States Air Force are the standardized military uniforms worn by members of the United States Air Force to distinguish themselves from the other services.
The uniforms of the Royal Navy have evolved gradually since the first uniform regulations for officers were issued in 1748. The predominant colours of Royal Navy uniforms are navy blue and white. Since reforms in 1997 male and female ratings have worn the same ceremonial uniform.
The following is a general overview of the Heer main uniforms, used by the German Army prior to and during World War II.
The Singapore Police Force has employed several different styles of uniforms throughout its history. Since 1969 it has used dark blue for its uniforms, although the first police uniforms introduced in 1856 were also in the same colour.
The modern Greek Army has a history of almost 200 years, during which it has undergone dramatic changes and been involved in some of the major conflicts on the European continent. The modern Greek military throughout its history was closely following international developments in equipment and uniforms. With the notable exception of the elite Evzones units, which based their uniforms on the indigenous traditional garments of the 18th century, the rest of the Army, as most militaries worldwide, was always quick to adopt the military fashion current among the armies of the influential Great Powers. This influence can be roughly divided in three periods: French-style uniforms, which dominated throughout the 19th century, the British styles introduced around World War I and used during World War II and until the late 1960s, and the "NATO" or US-style predominating from ca. 1968 onward. Various individual items or details can of course be traced to other influences, and there were also transitional uniforms combining previous designs.
The Royal Montserrat Police Service is the police service of the British Overseas Territory island of Montserrat in the Caribbean.
The uniforms of the Royal Canadian Navy are a variety of different official dress worn by members of the Royal Canadian Navy while on duty. Originally, the uniforms of the RCN were modelled after their counterparts from the United Kingdom. However, after the RCN was merged with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1968 to form the single-service Canadian Armed Forces, the RCN began to wear "Canadian Armed Forces green" uniforms, worn throughout the Canadian Armed Forces
The Royal Marines uniform is the standardised military dress worn by members of the Royal Marines.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF), known as the Anguilla Police Force until 1990, is the national police force of the Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help)[ better source needed ]{{failed verification}