Senator Smith: Statement On Gang Task Force

June 1, 2011

[Updated with video] This morning [June 1] Senator Jonathan Smith, the Junior Minister for National Security, delivered a Ministerial Statement on the Gang Task Force, which is being organized with an aim to stem the rising crime the island is experiencing.

Senator Smith, who served as Bermuda’s Police Commissioner from 2000-2005, said “These are critical times for our Island and I am committed to employing my experience and knowledge in support of the Minister and the security services in the fight to bring about safer communities for Bermuda.”

The Gang Task Force will be organized to compliment their community roles, the Gold Level will be focused on policies and general oversight; Silver Level will be operational and enforcfement based while the Bronze Level will be community/private sector organisations.

Senator Smith’s full statement follows below:

Madame President, thank you for the leave to make this Statement. I have already expressed my gratitude to the honourable Premier for the confidence she has shown in appointing me to the Senate and more importantly to serve as the Junior Minister for National Security.

These are critical times for our Island and I am committed to employing my experience and knowledge in support of the Minister and the security services in the fight to bring about safer communities for Bermuda.

Madame President, too often in the wake of some act of violence the call goes up from the Opposition and others for some kind of action; the blame is sometimes laid at the feet of the Government and one might be made to think that we, collectively, had pulled the trigger.

Of course that is not correct, but it is precisely that kind of “blame game” that fuels the public frustration with the response and the work of prevention that so many people are doing.

Madame President, in the Speech from the Throne of 2010 the Government undertook to bring together all of those agencies that are engaged in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of at-risk members of our society.

The Gang Task Force has been formed and through various stakeholder meetings a strategy to best use the resources is being developed. It is clear that a co-ordinated effort on all ends of these issues is required if we are to arrest the trend of anti-social behaviour and violence in the community.

Madame President, the groups in this Task Force will be organized to compliment their community roles and led by key persons from each area. The Gold Level will be focused on policies and general oversight; Silver Level will be operational and enforcfement based while the Bronze Level will be community/private sector organisations.

In the coming weeks, the Ministry will set out for the people of Bermuda the work plan and intended results of our efforts.

Madame President, the call for tougher laws has been heeded and the Government has actively considered the means by which to continue to disrupt the rhythm of those whose actions threaten our way of life. In “another place” the Minister has outlined in a series of statements that nothing is off the table.

To remind Senate, Madame President, provisions to deal with suspected criminals and their movement have been mooted as well as extensions to the Proceeds of Crime legislation to ensure that crime does not pay.

In conjunction with the draftsmen and legal advice of the Attorney General’s Chambers, active research is underway on how best to construct these provisions so that they are not incongruous with our Constitution.

Madame President this is no easy task; we value our freedoms in this democracy and do not trouble them lightly. The balance we strike will be one that also respects the need for people to feel safe in the very communities the Constitution was designed to protect.

Madame President, in 2009 the Government equipped the Bermuda Police Service with a raft of sweeping legislative authority to stop and search individuals and to regulate the conduct of those persons whose anti-social behaviour might lead to violence.

I can advise the Senate that the Commissioner has directed the men and women of the Service to make full use of those powers to ensure that swift and strong action is taken against offenders.

This effort is complimented by a prosecutorial apparatus that has presented cases of high evidential quality so that significant convictions have been secured and dangerous offenders are now incarcerated.

Madame President, the provisions of the 2005 Bail Act and ultimately the 2011 Amendment Act which we will soon consider, will be used to the greatest effect. Included in these powers afforded the Police on the grant of bail is the ability to prescribe electronic monitoring of offenders.

Madame President, I am advised that work is ongoing to identify the proper monitoring platform for the system and to ensure that when operative,it is fit for its intended purpose. This will greatly assist the police in deployment and management of resources and cause their efforts to be even more targeted against prolific offenders.

Madame President, I echo the sentiments of the Minister and of many others who have observed that we cannot legislate ourselves out of these problems. The principal purpose of the Ministry of National Security is to address the enforcement side of the equation.

However, as citizens we cannot blindly enforce without regard to the importance of the social circumstances in the community and the home, whose symptoms are displayed in senseless violence.

Madame President, the efforts of the helping agencies, the education system and most importantly individual parents and citizens are the most important preventative measures that can be adopted. Calls for stricter laws must be matched by calls for stronger parenting and for early intervention in schools.

No blind eye can be turned to these issues at any stage. This Government’s commitment to providing safer communities for Bermuda is not a singular effort; it is a joint enterprise of partners of all varieties, whose sole aim is to ensure a safe and successful Bermuda.

Thank you Madame President.

Read More About

Category: All, Crime, News

Comments (15)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. metoo says:

    We’re to refer to Premier Cox as Madame President? *confused*

    • lifeblood says:

      I believe he means the president of the senate.

  2. P Smith says:

    Is this the same Mr Smith who inherited the Rebecca Middleton enquiry which floundered and failed so spectacularly?
    The same man whose c.v. appears unchallenged at:
    http://www.bermuda.org.uk/jonathan_smith.htm
    just what ‘experience and knowledge’ does he bring to the party … or will we shortly hear that this is just another position from which he will obtain experience and knowledge at the expense of the island’s residents?
    Gold, silver and bronze … in this cub-scout ‘gangs’ ….is it Akela, Kaa or Shere Khan Smith ….

    • Jonathan Smith says:

      The answers to your questions/comments are:
      1. Commissioner Colin Coxall was the Commissioner of Police in 1996 at the time of the Rebecca Middleton murder investigation.
      2. The website you refer to is run by a disgruntled former UK member of the BPS whose contract was not renewed more than twenty years ago. You’ll see many vindictive and unreliable comments on that website. The owner attempted to sell the domain name to the BPS a number of years ago for several million dollars so that should tell you something about the author.
      3. If you want to find out anything about my Police career or accomplishments please feel free to contact me at 536-3333 or jonsmith@gov.bm (Bernews I do not mind this information being made public. It is already posted on the internet for all to see).

      • Wow LMFAO says:

        I guess he told you P Smith. I have respect for a man or woman who comes out swinging from the bench and beats his opponent down verbally.

        Good answers Senator Smith, now could you get back to work and protect me and my family from these punks on the street.

        Their will be many haters that don’t like the fact that you join the PLP. Keep up the good work Bie.

      • Terry says:

        Bull Jonathan. You know it I know it. Phillip Swift is a friend and IO know what he went through. It’s documented.

        As for BPS, that is neither here nor there.

        Now take your pension plus your employment, plus your Senate salary and go a zoobs.

        I’ll save the libel for later.

      • Geza Wolf says:

        Hi Mr. Smith,

        What are your thoughts on this?

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13624303

      • Motts Apple Sauce says:

        Thank you Senator Smith.

      • Senator Jonathan, Congratulations on your new position to the Senate and your hard work !! Dealing with crime and gang violence is no easy undertaking. It is a really big problem that is faced by many countries all over the world. I Pray that Bermuda can come to grips with it soon. I have seen various documentaries on gangs in different countries, and most have had little success in ending the wars, but I think our size may give us a little edge to the problem. Keep working and stay focus on the task !!!

        • Geza Wolf says:

          The war has not stopped anywhere since it began. It has changed nothing except the names of the crews who operate their illegal businesses.

  3. Terry is a Hater says:

    Arguing on the internet is like running in the Special Olympics.

    Even if you win, you’re still a retard Terry.

    Now give Smith a break hater.

    • Terry says:

      Well, apparently I am according to you. If you think your comments will change minds, think again. You will notice that Bernews left out most of my comments about pensions, work, and salary from the PLP Government.. Lets see if they print this.

      If not, well you know who sells koolaide.

      • Terry says:

        Bernews, post J. Smiths retirement, current salary:-employed, salary from Government.

        Copy sent…..

        • Terry says:

          I may be a “retard” in your view “Terry is a Hater”.

          Perception Management…………………………….

          Get real.

    • Terry says:

      You have some serious issues. Special Olympics”

      Read what you wrote. Never compare my gramar or opions to those that are challenged. You moron.