The conference, which runs from Monday to Friday, is held annually to facilitate discussion on law enforcement matters for United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories.

This year, it is being held under the theme, “Ensuring Capacity, Capability and Sustainability in the Delivery of Effective Law Enforcement Services.”

The meeting will feature discussions on several topics relating to crime fighting in the UK Overseas Territories. These include a unified approach to crime prevention, witness protection, drug trafficking threats, immigration and customs enforcement, regional and international cooperation to fight crime, and recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel.

British Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Reynell Fraser said the conference will be a major boost to the recent intensified efforts to reduce crime in the BVI.

He said information shared at the conference will help law enforcement agencies in the Territory identify and adopt international best practices to fight crime.

Mr. Fraser said the BVI stands to gain significant benefits from the conference, as it will undoubtedly strengthen the overall law enforcement strategies in the Territory.

BVI Customs Comptroller Wade Smith said Government is aiming for modernised law enforcement and information sharing capabilities. He said HM Customs is placing integrity, accountability and transparency as its top priorities, and added that the people of the Territory can hold the department accountable for this.

Mr. Smith pointed out that Government intends to make efficiency and effectiveness evenly distributed throughout law enforcement operations in the Territory and that law and order will be “at the very heart” of all development strategies.

BVI's Acting Chief Immigration Officer Malvern Brathwaite said the region faces a daunting task in dealing with illegal immigration. He said Government recognises that, if left unabated, the rise of illegal immigration can become a serious threat to the economic and social welfare of the BVI.

Braithwaite said Government is however committed to ensuring that this does not happen, adding that the Immigration Department is doing its best to fulfill its role as a law enforcement agency in the Territory.

Law enforcement officials from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands are attending the conference. The BVI hosted the event in March 2004.