First established in 1799 by his Majesty’s Commander John Dunmore, Bermudian born Mr. Firth and appointed him a Police Officer calling him the high Constable with three Special Constables under his command. The establishment was given the name “Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force” Ever since 1799 the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has been serving the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are located 575 miles southeast of Miami Florida, 30 miles south of the Bahamas and 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic with a population of 49,000. These Islands are found in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Caribbean Sea and northern Caribbean region and attract tourists due to their beauty and rich culture. The vast majority of people reside on Providenciales with Grand Turk being the second most populated followed by North Caicos

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has advanced with time; the first improvement came in 1855 President Inglis enacted a Police Ordinance to improve the strength of the Police force. Under this ordinance, every male adult had a legal obligation to serve as a Special Constable. Men were conscripted for this task by lots drawn annually and they were obliged to do duty at least once every three years. It was not until 1894 that the Police force was assigned a uniform. Commissioner Cameron provided the Police force with their first proper uniform. Badges, belts, and buttons were issued with the insignia “Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force” Armlets were supplied to the Special Constables. 1964 marked a year of great joy and progress as the first female Police officer was recruited and since then the number of Female Police Officers has steadily increased. By 1991 the Police Force increased its establishment to one Hundred and thirty-five with two supernumerary Posts from the U.K., one Deputy Commissioner Administration and one detective Superintendent due to the development on the islands, the Police force continued to run and keep the Islands safe and secure.

Today the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force attends to all of the populated Islands in the Turks and Caicos Islands specifically, West Caicos, Providenciales, North Caicos, South Caicos, Pine Cay, Parrot Cay, Delis Cay, Ambergris Cay, Salt and Grand Turk and comprises of approximately 225 Police Officers, a team of Special Constables, District Constables and Civilian Support staff. The Police Force is made up of officers representing different countries and nationalities. It oversees crime by dividing its services between two divisions; A and B. Division A contains three islands which are Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay whereas Division B consists of two islands: Providenciales and North Caicos. It has for advanced special unit’s departments; Tactical Unit, Scenes of Crime, Fingerprint, Financial Crime Investigation all working in order to create a safe and just life for the people.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police force consists of men and women of different backgrounds yet all of them have the same vision that was there in 1799;

“To make the Turks and Caicos Islands a safe and secure country in which to visit, invest, work, and live”