Police Introduce ‘Yellow Card’ System
This past Cup Match holiday weekend some residents were stopped by the Police and were the recipients of a “verbal caution” rather than a ticket.
The Police said they acknowledge that there is often a “knock on effect” on the law abiding citizens who get caught up in road checks designed to target gang members.
Saying it is an effort to “mitigate the inconvenience to law abiding citizens,” the BPS introduced a new concept this weekend which they termed the “Yellow Card”. Residents stopped for minor traffic offences officers were given the option to give a verbal caution instead of traffic ticket.
A paper was given to each person who received a ‘yellow card’, saying, “You have received a verbal caution for _______. Thank you for your cooperation. You are encouraged to drive safely and to have an enjoyable Cup Match Weekend.”
At a press conference held yesterday, Acting Assistant Commissioner Martin Weekes said, “The Bermuda Police Service would like to thank the Bermuda Public for their support and assistance over the Cup match weekend.”
“As you will be aware there were no serious incidents throughout the long weekend despite huge crowds at the game, the Non-Mariners Race and the many other events that took place.”
“The few problems that occurred were limited to minor outbreaks of antisocial behavior mainly by young teens. These problems in some instances caused the BPS to close down certain events in order to prevent further escalation of antisocial behavior.”
“Whilst acknowledging the support and assistance of the public in assisting the BPS to keep the peace it would be unfair not to draw the public’s attention to the hard work and dedication of the police officers, Reserve officers and Bermuda Regiment soldiers who sacrificed their holiday weekend to Make Bermuda Safer.”
“Officers were out on land and on the water to reassure the public, disrupt criminality and prevent gang violence.”
“This doesn’t happen by accident. Hours of preparation and planning were put in and long shifts were worked over the weekend to put that plan into action.”
“This operation which was conducted over five days from Wednesday night until Monday morning was of course extremely resource intensive. The decision to make it so was taken consciously knowing as we did that some of the events were likely to attract thousands of people.”
“Whilst we are happy that our efforts to disrupt gang members and prevent the transport of weapons across the island were successful over the Cup Match weekend we acknowledge that there is often a knock on effect on the law abiding citizens who get caught up in road checks designed to target gang members.”
“To mitigate the inconvenience to law abiding citizens, this weekend the BPS introduced a new concept which we termed the “Yellow Card”. In the case of persons stopped for minor traffic offences officers were given the option to give a verbal caution instead of traffic ticket.”
“These verbal cautions were accompanied by the issuing of a “Yellow Card”. The card had a space where the offence committed was written in by the officer along with the following wording,
You have received a verbal caution for………. Thank you for your cooperation. You are encouraged to drive safely and to have an enjoyable Cup Match Weekend.
“The one area this system wasn’t used however was in the issuing of parking tickets. The BPS identified several areas throughout the weekend where parking became an issue. In every case tickets were issued to vehicles that were causing problems by parking where there were centre yellow lines.”
“The main problem being that by parking in these areas the width of the road became restricted and therefore would have prevented emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances from progressing along that particular road in the event of an emergency.”
“Clearly this is a safety issue and more particularly so on holiday weekends when there are large numbers of persons gathering. We therefore appeal to the public in future to consider this when choosing where to park their vehicles.”
“Finally on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, I would once again like to thank the Bermuda community for helping us Make Bermuda Safer this Cup Match.”
Does this card system work the same for minor possession of cannabis as it does in many other countries around the world. The Uk gives out one for a warning then the second is a caution, why is it taking this long for our island to catch on to progressive world affairs?
We can only hope.
Will you guys give it a f****g break nobody is talking about cannabis at all ffs. Educate your mind instead of worrying about how you can get your next weed fix .
Yes. Exactly. What smart said.
im just going on what ive heard following cup match..was wondering if they did give any out for the weed being smoke EVERYWHERE…because i dont see anything about people being arrested for drink driving offenses or did they get yellow cards as well?
BPS is clearly stepping up their game and doing a great job. Well done!
The Police DID NOT do a good job at Beachfest. When the first fight broke out they were nowhere to be seen. The fight escalated and dissipated before they even showed up. Where were they? At the very eastern end of the beach, all standing together, where there was hardly a crowd. No police in the thick of the masses, no police near the stage. Not a job well done.
the Police are not required to be security officers for every event held. It should be the obligation of event organisers to ensure there is sufficient security on hand and that they are aware of the possible conflicts. The police cannot be all places at one time.
Make the security do their jobs, they’renot there just stand around and admire the masses, they are hired to protect them. Make them and your promoters accountable.
Oh Truth piss off………Yah gotta bitch and moan about everything.
“Beachfest”?
I thought it was called something else. If there had been 20 Policeman/Women going through the crowd and around you’d say they were everywhere. Couldn’t enjoy yourself…damn Police…can’t even have a rum and a rub…..
At least they were there idiot, and their presence known thats why it did not escalte.
Never mind. You just don’t get it and I doubpt you ever will. Hell,….I forgot what else I was going to say……OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!
Shit, cahn ewan go too dee beach and have a rum….freeking Police hall oway dee place….why dunt dey go chaze creeminhalls……..
the Police are doing a good job! they don’t have to patrol any privately held event, they do it out of good governance for us the PUBLIC. every little sh!thead that wants to fight in public should be dealt with and that is why you hire your security. there should be some sensible vigilantes in this country! slap these little crapheads into some sense…. and all you zealots who despise corporal punishment just remember that we have evolved into an “intelligent” being in the animal kingdom………..all other species deal with their weak, rude, sick members accordingly. WE issue pacifiers lol.
The POLICE did THEIR job….the problem WAS the ACTUAL AZZEZZ that caused it .
If you wanna see a cop at every turn go to Cuba or Russia…Handle your people Bermy….not Her Majesty’s Service
This is a step in the right direction, BBS. I agree with Will.
You have received a verbal caution for a small amount of ganja obviously intended for personal use. Thank you for your cooperation. You are encouraged to drive safely and to have an enjoyable Cup Match Weekend.
no one gives a sh%t about weed.
@ thank – no one gives a sh** wa u gotta seh so U fall back.
@Thank. Judging by the amount of weed that gets smoked here and the amount of people who get arrested for being caught with it I would have to disagree with your statement. More people give a sh$t about weed here per capita than any other place in the world.
Truth would not know how to spell his name if it was written in bold caps. Should change his name to ahhh goo always complain.
Road checks “designed” to target gang members? How do you design a road stop that “targets” gang members as opposed to…everybody else? Is there a “gang member” and “non gang member” line?
@ lifeblood..LOL!!! my sentiments exactly!!!! profiling???? oops sorry madam here’s your yellow card, my bad. thought you was “repping MOB!”
LOL!!! I’ve been stopped four times already! I can almost quote the relevant section of the new legislation AND what the officer is going to say after that as soon as I pull over.
Finally something I can agree with. Good Job BPS. Now lets apply this to small quantities oh herbs so my bermudian bredrens and sistrens can still go to school abroad and not look like criminals!
if u wanna go skool abroad and not be stuck on this little rck its very easy and simple….”say no to drugs.”