 Previously the British Leeward Islands Police had provided policing across all British territories in the region, from the late nineteenth century onwards.Following the granting of independence to certain constituent states, and the change in status of dependent territories, the larger force was gradually broken down into smaller constabularies.The British Virgin Islands were briefly, during the 1960s, policed by the Antigua, Montserrat and Virgin Islands Police Force, but this force was dissolved in 1967, with each constituent state gaining an independent force.