Commissioner Mark Payne QPM joins Policing TV from Montserrat to share what it is really like to lead the Royal Montserrat Police Service. In this episode, he explains how a three-month interim posting turned into a two-year commitment to one of the most beautiful — and most fragile — islands in the Caribbean.

Mark talks candidly about Montserrat’s history of hurricanes and volcanic eruption, its very low crime rates, and the hidden risks posed by regional organised crime, guns, drugs and human trafficking. He explains the realities of policing a close-knit community of 4–5,000 people with 85 officers, building new capabilities with drones and agile marine units, and trying to future-proof a small island force against big-league threats.

This 12-part video series (Sept 2025–Aug 2026) will explore policing across the 14 British Overseas Territories (BOTs), combining operational insight with human stories of resilience, innovation, and community trust. Aimed at a global policing audience, it will inspire professionals to consider unique career opportunities while highlighting the UK’s commitment to ethical, inclusive, and locally adapted policing in some of the world’s most remote and diverse jurisdictions.

Each monthly episode will focus on one territory, featuring:

• Senior officer perspectives on challenges, priorities, and vision
• Frontline accounts from officers and community members
• Cultural and operational context unique to each location
• A strategic theme, such as women in policing, domestic abuse prevention, disaster response, or innovation in
• isolation
• A takeaway message relevant to policing worldwide
• And a  recruitment call to action – we need help and support to keep this amazing service going !

Recurring features – including A Day in the Life, Ask the Commissioner, and Innovation Spotlight – will give a consistent structure while showcasing individual character and creativity across forces.

Themes woven throughout include gender equality, tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), community trust, cross-cultural policing, and professional opportunities for secondments, post-retirement roles, and career transitions.

At its heart, this is a people-first series: celebrating service, promoting inclusion, and inviting skilled professionals to be part of something meaningful.

Takeaways

• Montserrat is a tiny British Overseas Territory rebuilt after hurricane and volcanic devastation.
• The island’s population has fallen from about 15,000 to around 4–5,000 residents.
• In crime terms, Montserrat is still a very low-crime island where people leave doors and cars unlocked.
• Regionally, guns, drugs and human trafficking flows pose serious future risks to the island.
• Mark’s job is to stop transnational organised crime reaching Montserrat’s shores.
• The force blends local officers and recruits from neighbouring islands for knowledge and resilience.
• With only 85 officers, roles are multi-skilled but still have to support 24/7 coverage.
• New tech like drones, upgraded marine vessels and better kit are central to future-proofing the service.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Montserrat: A New Beginning
02:14 Natural Disasters and Their Impact on Montserrat
06:06 Building a Local Police Force
09:23 Investing in Policing: Challenges and Innovations
12:07 Looking Ahead: Future of Policing in Montserrat

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