Police: 61 Arrests & 232 Stop-and-Searches
The Police state there was a heightened Police presence on the streets this weekend, which resulted in 61 arrests and 232 stop and searches.
The Bermuda Police Service has extended their thanks to the public for their continued support, and said “We appreciate that some people were inconvenienced because of our efforts this weekend; however most people were very accommodating with officers and we thank them for their patience.”
Tensions on the street were said to be running high this weekend, as this past Thursday saw a hail of gunfire, including two incidents in under 10 minutes which resulted in no injuries, as well as a third incident later that day, which saw a man shot and rushed to the hospital. The incidents were notable in that there were three in one day, one saw a bystander’s car get hit with a bullet, and the third incident occurred while the Police were on patrol in the area.
Assistant Commissioner of Police David Mirfield said:
It is not the intention of the Bermuda Police Service to inconvenience the law abiding Bermudian. What is our intention is to do everything in our powers to disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs. If that means we stop and search more people then we will; if that means we stop and search cars, motorcycles and any other vehicle, then we will; if it means we fill our cells, then we will do that also, until such time that the law abiding citizen feels safe.
Also over the weekend there were 7 people arrested on suspicion of impaired driving and 4 reported burglaries. There were 8 reported damage only road traffic collisions, 3 reported road traffic collisions resulting in injury and 6 stolen vehicles reported.
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Ridiculous as usual. 61 arrests? For what? How many had guns? How many were gang members? If they are going to gloat about the well done policing they should say why 61 people were arrested. If their main goal was to “disrupt and dismantle” gangs. I bet 90% were traffic offenses and the other 10% were people who had a small amount of drugs.
Well I’m 1 out of 61 of the arrested for a speeding ticket that I already paid but whoevers extremely hard job it is to remove the warrants out of the system after the tickets have been paid failed to do so.
Yeah but they won’t put that in the media. Sad and pathetic place we live in.
it seems the poor police are damned if they do or damned if they doont, 2unclle ruckus, if you break the law expect to get locked up…simple as that, wonder hwat you would have said if that poor lady had been shot on North Shore road??? if u have nothing good to say dont say anything ….smh
Are you for real? Do you realize that stopping random peoples cars IS NOT ACHIEVING anything THUS my questions? They know who do what and they know were to look INSTEAD they choose to interrupt the every day citizens going about their business. Hell The Royal Gazette pieced together the gang connections and these clown can’t? I can say WHAT I WANT and what I stated earlier wasn’t bad at all. Come again.
Also what exactly is stopping every one driving around and searching there car going to do in regards to that woman’s car being hit with a bullet? That’s like searching for a needle in a haystack, which again is why they didn’t find anything. I would say the same thing-go find the REAL criminals. Start executing search warrants and kicking down doors. Which they rarely ever do.
*Start executing search warrants and kicking down doors.*
And if you think people are howling now over some simple traffic stops , wait ’till they start doing that ! !
The difference is it will be homes of known gang members. No one will complain then. *Sigh* Like I said they know who does what, The Royal Gazette can piece it together but the POLICE can’t? That’s cause for concern.
Exactly Percival. I am SMDH 2.
consider this:
Imagine being a waiter and the next day when you go to work, they tell you to report to the bar as you are know a bartender (of which you have no experience.
Imagine being a traffic officer and the next day when you report to work they tell you that you know have to go and catch gunslingers. Serz, i would quit the job!!
Traffic officers are for issuing parking tickets. Police officers have a different job to do, and that includes dealing with ALL crimes, whether gun, knife or bazooka. Yes, it is their job, and they get paid very well to do it. Police cannot stop doing their job because they are scared. It is a life threatening job.
I am talking about cycle cops, ect. I have family members whom are officers and they where never trained to expect the violence that they are experiencing now. And if it were me in that situation then i would quit and yes i know of other officers who have left the force as well. Hats off to the police for doing a job that I am too afraid to do and at a moments notice.!
yo Total..don’t blame the Police…blame the Government who keep receipts and the logs and net.
Damn…They get blamed for everything….BREAKING NEWS……23 girls deliver baby’s………….Damn Police…why were’nt they there……………….useless buggers……
lol@terry.
The quantity of stop and searches is nothing to be impressed about. And why hasn’t this been something that they do on the regular.
@ Uncle Rucus- Its not what you know its what you can prove in court. And the need warrants to knock down doors. Do you know who has to aprrove these warrants ? not the police. They just issue them.
Well Said S.!
and this is what it comes to. If people wont speak up about the murders then we all pay the price with the stop and searches.
A bit off topic: The folks up at 42 claim that the the police are in with parkside, because the police ladies didnot chase the bike at last weeks shooting. Well it sounds to me like the folks at 42 know exactly who did the shooting if they can make that claim!!
@Uncle ruckus..
trust.. a lot of pepole SAY they’d like them to just go knockin doors of “known gang members”… but if it actually happened???? you can forsee all the civil rights lawsuits..
define “gang member”? how do you prove one is a member? Or is it all circumstantial? I would love to see them do that but that’s because i know they wont be coming near my door. Hell they were banging down the door of the ex-gf and mother of an escaped felon’s child, and people were up in arms over that?? Thats excatly what you say should be done and yet you think everyone will be happy with it??
NOT A CHANCE that that will go pleasantly.
Bermuda is already a police and anybody who thinks that adding more police to the equation or giving them broader powers is the solution to this mess has their head in the clouds. More police, as we have seen has not led to more arrests or more convictions.
I have a huge problem with the number of stop and searches.61 arrests out of 232 stop and searches means that at least 171 people were subjected to a search unnecessarily.
Given the number that is thrown around about there being only about 300 to 400 active gang members, wouldn’t it be a much better use of resources if THOSE individuals were subjected to police harassment and searches. As a law-abiding citizen I wholeheartedly object to being searched and treated like a criminal when the police KNOW who the real criminals are…
yes 171 people got off, but 61 arrests?
whether it be petty traffic warrants, drugs, or gang related stuff, that number suggests that some 25% of bermudians are breaking the law..
not a pretty number when we’re talking about how bad crime has gotten.
I think the stop and searches are a start, but they know who the gang members are and the legislation lets them search their houses, so search search search their houses and their associates houses. When they fint a bullet or anything hold them until they squeal. But we need police with gang experience and police officers who don’t know people here and have family here to be brought in. Not because we are not capable but because the police are humans and have families they must be concerned about. None related police officers without family here for a short time (like a year at a time) will be able to apprehend these criminals without worrying about their families and knowing the persons – you know – “that’s my cuz!” or “dats my boy”