In this second and final conversation, David Price, Chief of Police in St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha discusses his decision to move to the island and the challenges he has faced in policing such a small community.

He talks about the unique environment of St Helena, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the future challenges the island will face. David emphasizes the importance of understanding the community and its laws, as well as the need for support from the UK in terms of resources and expertise. He also reflects on the pride he feels in leading the police service on the island.

Takeaways

• Moving to St Helena presented a new and exciting opportunity for David Price after his career in UK policing.
• Policing a small community like St Helena comes with unique challenges, including the need to understand the community and its laws.
• The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges for the island, but the community’s compliance with regulations helped to keep the island safe.
• The opening of the internet on St Helena has brought both positive and negative changes, including increased connectivity and the need to address internet-related crimes.
• The future challenges for St Helena include an aging population, limited resources, and the need to adapt to technological advancements.
• David Price takes pride in leading the police service on St Helena and cherishes the recognition of being granted Royal status.

Sound Bites

• “A lot of the challenges are to do with the island and the island’s health, both physical health and financial health.”
• “The island is very inexperienced in its use of technology. The internet only arrived here in 2015 and mobile phones at the same time.”
• “One of the proudest days of my life was when we were given Royal status because we were the ninth out of the ten services to be given the title Royal back in 2022.”

Chapters
00:00. Transition to St. Helena and Policing in a Small Community
09:57. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
10:58. Working in a Small Community During the Pandemic
12:45. Dealing with National Issues in a Small Organization
13:14. The Success of the Quarantine System
17:35. Policing in a Small, Close-Knit Community
23:18. Understanding the Limitations of Policing in St. Helena
26:02. Challenges for the Future: Health, Financial Stability, and Aging Population
28:21. The Impact of the Internet on St. Helena
34:14. Achievements and Future Plans

>>We apologise for some poor audio – the line from St Helena was not kind to us !

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