Police chief's beat is a speck in the ocean
A FORMER Eastbourne police chief has taken up a new post on the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Royce Hipgrave is the new chief of police on St Helena, one of the world's remotest inhabited islands. He served there for two and a half years in the late 1990s after leaving his post as Divisional Commander for East Sussex based in Grove Road.
He said, "I was asked four weeks ago to take up the post of Chief of Police by Governor Andrew Gurr.
"We were so pleased to be able to come back. It was all a bit of a rush packing but we made the ship from Walvis Bay, Namibia, with only hours to spare.
"It took five days to get to the island by ship. St Helena still has no airport as the Government put the project on pause just before Christmas.
"We just love being back here. Nearly everyone remembered us and all made us feel welcome. We live just outside Jamestown on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean and with fantastic sunsets.
"Work is not easy. Due to the airport pause a lot of St Helenians have left and it is hard to both retain and recruit staff.
"However, those left are committed and most were here last time. I have the Prison, Fire Service and Immigration to take care of as well so after eight years retired it is a steep learning curve."
Royce said he aims to improve the links between the island's police service and the community and is hoping residents will train to become community and special constables.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
