At the far edge of the South Atlantic, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have no permanent residents, no airport, and can only be reached after days at sea. In this Policing TV interview, Ian Tomson-Smith speaks with Laura Willis, Chief Executive of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (and former UK police officer), about what it takes to run and protect such a remote UK territory.
Laura explains how a tiny team delivers everything from environmental protection and tourism management to policing and major incident response. She describes government officers who are also sworn reserve constables, the realities of isolation and harsh conditions, and the challenge of keeping both people and a globally important ecosystem safe at “the very end of the world.”
Takeaways
- South Georgia is an uninhabited UK territory with no airport and extreme remoteness.
- A tiny 20-person team delivers full “national” functions from the Falkland Islands.
- Government officers on South Georgia are also sworn reserve police constables.
- Policing focuses mainly on environmental protection and rare but serious incidents.
- Isolation and harsh conditions mean officers need strong judgment and resilience.
- Close links with the Royal Falkland Islands Police and UK partners are vital for major incidents and complex crime.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Laura Willis and Her Role
01:55 A Day in the Life of a CEO in Remote Territories
06:11 Unique Challenges of Governance in South Georgia
10:59 Staffing and Community Dynamics in South Georgia
13:00 Crime and Law Enforcement in South Georgia
17:19 Tourism and Unique Encounters in South Georgia
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