The Royal Anguilla Police Force has defended its decision not to name a serving constable who was charged with the importation of a controlled substance.
The officer was detained on 4 July after allegedly attempting to collect a package containing about 0.7 grammes of “what appeared to be cannabis seeds”.
A police press release issued on 8 July confirmed the incident but did not identify the officer.
This marked a departure from the force’s usual practice of naming people who have been charged, leading to public criticism and calls for transparency.
In a social media response, the police said the officer’s name had not been released in accordance with the Professional Standards Policy, which governs confidentiality in disciplinary and legal matters.
The policy states that where criminal charges are involved, names may only be released after the officer’s first court appearance – and only with approval from the commissioner or deputy commissioner.
“This process ensures fairness, protects the legal proceedings, and upholds the rights of all individuals involved,” the statement said.
The policy was last revised in April and is scheduled for review in January 2026.
Further criticism from a member of the public who called the response “nonsense” and asked about the fairness of the decision, prompted a second reply from the police.
It said that the force understands the “strong feelings around this issue” and that it operates under the policy which exists to “balance transparency with due process and employee rights under the law”.
“We fully acknowledge that the same principles of fairness and presumption of innocence apply to all individuals, not only police officers,” the statement said.
“The difference is that when an officer is charged, there is an additional layer of internal disciplinary and employment law that requires the force to follow set procedures before releasing details publicly.”
It went on to say that where private citizens are concerned, the release of names is governed by wider court and media practices which “in most cases” are not under the direct control of the police force.
“That said, we accept that this is an important conversation. We are committed to continually reviewing our policies to ensure they uphold fairness, consistency and the public’s trust,” the post continued.
“We appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your concerns are considered as part of any future policy review.”
Anyone with information on any criminal activity in Anguilla can call (264) 497-2333 or 497-5333, or leave an anonymous message, video or photo at secureaxa.com
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