DYFED-Powys Police officers have shared their experience of a ‘challenging but rewarding’ deployment to the hurricane-hit British Virgin Islands.

Sergeant Owen Dillon and PC Julian Clegg, both from the Brecon RPU, and Patrick Dewaine from Pembrokeshire, spent four weeks supporting police and helping people to rebuild their lives on Tortola Island, which was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September.

The officers were joined by colleagues from forces across the UK for the third and final deployment to the British Virgin Islands.

The group came together at the military air trooping centre in South Cerney and flew out to the main Island of Tortola via Barbados. The overnight stays in military camps in South Cerney and Barbados gave the officers the opportunity to get to know each other.

Sgt Dillon said: “On arrival at the airport on Beef Island, we were met by the British command team, and after a quick briefing were left to settle into the Treasure Isle Hotel on Tortola Island. It was still missing a roof and had many damaged rooms. The air conditioning only worked in a couple of rooms, but the electricity and running water were fixed, which were the most important things.

“The 53 UK officers were split three or more to a room with most on bunk beds protected by mosquito nets. The bites of mosquitoes and fleas caused a lot of discomfort initially, with one officer having to receive treatment from the local hospital.”

The officers were sworn in by the commissioner before beginning their duties. Only three of the island’s seven police stations were operational, but still heavily damaged, due to the impact of the hurricanes. Most of the smaller departments had been disbanded, with almost all officers back on the beat.

Sgt Dillon said: “The local officers were physically and mentally tired, but showed remarkable commitment to continue to show up for work each day, leaving behind damaged houses and driving to work in damaged cars.

“Many of them have had to send their children away to live in other countries, which is just unimaginable.”

The officers worked alongside local police, getting to understand the laws and grip the difficulties of seeing justice done without a functional court house on the island following the hurricanes.

PC Dewaine said: “It’s a totally different way of life. They have a curfew from 11pm to 6am, which we were enforcing, and there is a lot of looting. We did an early morning warrant and seized a load of things from a boy who had been looting. He had all sorts – blankets, trainers, handbags, anything worth money – and was selling them on Facebook.

“A lot of those people had nothing before – it was so sad, but we were there to police it.”

Sgt Dillon added: “The court house was totally destroyed so there were no sessions running. This made dealing with prisoners difficult. During the deployment there was a case involving high level drug traffickers and a suspected murderer, so a judge had to be flown in to hold special court sittings.

“We worked with local officers and firearms officers from the Cayman Islands and Bermuda to provide security at court and back to the prison.”

While previous deployments to the British Virgin Islands saw officers helping with disaster relief, this third and final group of officers was tasked with law enforcement and cracking down on organised crime, with Sgt Dillon organising several phases of Operation Impact.

“The aim was to provide public confidence, target criminals and show some best practice,” he said. “During the Op Impacts, involving UK, BVI, Cayman and Bermudan officers, there were several arrests, and seizures of drugs, cash and vehicles.”

Officers faced challenging working conditions, with no radio communication and roads that were almost totally destroyed.

“The roads were ripped up by the hurricanes,” PC Dewaine said. “All the vehicles are smashed and damaged. There are lorries without bonnets and cars without windscreens, but they’re still using them – they have to.

“It’s a country that relies on tourism, bit the marinas and hotels are ruined. They are basically starting again. We had an idea of how bad it would be, but you can’t picture it until you’re in it.”

During their spare time, officers worked with aid agencies including UNICEF, Team Rubicon, Red Cross and the Convoy of Hope. There was a lot of work carried out to get the schools up and running, with PC Dewaine providing assistance in carpentry.

“People were so grateful for us being there,” he said. “On rest days and even between shifts we went there to do what we could.

“I’m definitely glad we went out there. I’d seen what it looked like on TV before going, but you can’t even imagine it.”

Sgt Dillon added: “During our time on the islands there was fantastic support from the local population at all levels. We provided them a lot of confidence and stability while they rebuilt their lives.

“It took time to break down barriers and to gain the trust of the local officers and I was very proud of the way my team integrated with the local officers. It was a fantastic experience and a rewarding deployment.”