Dunkley: Maximum Effort Can Reduce Crime
[Written by Senator Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister for National Security] We appreciate the Police Commissioner’s analysis that the long-term crime trend is going down, and we want to say upfront that the Police deserve credit for recent high-profile successes in gun and drug seizures.
However we remain deeply concerned and worried that the most serious crimes affecting the people of Bermuda – crimes against persons, against property and against the community – rose in the last quarter.
It is against these three categories of criminal activity that we continue to urge the application of maximum police presence. Experience shows this to be one of the most successful tools in the Police arsenal. A strong Police presence pressures criminals, builds community confidence and produces intelligence.
A stronger Police community presence – one of our longstanding goals for policing in Bermuda – may be a factor behind this latest crime report. If people feel the Police are in their communities to stay and relationships develop between officers and resident, more people begin to come forward .
There may be other unreported factors behind the rise in crime that should consider before coming to definitive conclusions.
We believe the public is highly attuned to the crime situation and that they are becoming more empowered to report crimes, which can translate into a statistical “increase” in crime though actual levels may be the same or less from one reporting period to the next.
Whatever the case, crime remains at unacceptable levels and we must apply maximum pressure wherever we can, with the Government supporting Police operations with resources that enable the Police to succeed. It’s certainly what the community expects.
With the greatest amount of respect Mr Dunkley do you have the slightest clue what the Police are doing in the community?? I have had the pleaseure of being at several community meetings with the Community Action Team members in recent months, community meetings where numerous members of parliament have been present, although i’ve never seen you there Sir!!! and they have been working extremely hard to build bridges in the community. I will highlight the newly started Neighbourhood watch groups in traditionally anti police areas like St. Monicas and Friswells hill. Maybe you should better educte yourself before running off at the mouth and using the Police as a political football
Thats all Mr. Dunkley is good at is running off at the mouth.
@Dogberry I slightly agree that Dunkley talks a lot, but realize that it’s his job to do so. I’ll let you off on the educte [sic] typographical error, but before you ask Mike Dunkley to educate himself the least you can do is educate yourself and learn how to spell the word “pleasure”. I won’t even get into your poor understanding of proper nouns and punctuation.
Yes mate; if i’d known I was going to be subjected to an english review, then I maybe would have taken more time to check my spelling and punctuation. But my points remain valid, and surely someone who apparently thinks themselves intelligent enough to cast scorn on other posters, will understand that when I spoke about educating himself I was refering to the fact that Mr. Dunkley has been absent at almost every Police community event I have attend in recent months, so how can he possibly comment on the work that the BPS is doing in the community!!
Maybe now you’ll add some positive inputs to this forum rather than targeting other posters.
Mike Dunkley is not responsible for the increase in crime. The PLP’s policy of co-existance with the gangs blew up in their faces and now the community is paying the price. If Dogberry and Dwain were half as mad at the gangs we probably wouldn’t have any. Bermuda would have done what Cayman did and crushed them. Bermuda still does not have the political will to stop corruption and crush the gangs.
Mr. Dunkley suffers from diarrhea of the mouth, he will go to any lengths to gain MORE power. The Police have been doing a good job and I salute the men in blue, ignore silly politicians who just want power.
Mr. Dunkley can be a pain at times but he brings up some good point. Re-reead what was written.
He, along with other MP’s are concerned but the the reality is that his comments about “A strong police presence” is where in my view he misses the mark.
The Police are under strength, vacations et al and they can’t be everywhere.
I am not a fan of the present Government (ruling) but the irony is and I must admit, they are doing the best with what they have. Money is tight and the Bouys in Blue are doing an above average job dealing with incidents, Murders, Traffic and investigations.
This brings new meaning to “Got Milk”.
Now…time for a cheap bear and help my neighbor.
Safe weekend and remember…’Only you can prevent white lips’………clean up.
I must add my voice to the debate in support of my fellow commentors. Mr Dunkley seems to have lost all objectivity when addressing situations and seemed only focused on political gain. Mr. Dunkley’s verbal subjectivity is becoming almost as annoying as Leverne Furbert’s blind and misguided loyalty in light of physical evidence and empirical data to the contrary. I say Mr. Dunkley quit while you are ahead. The Police Service, Government House and the Government must be congratulated for the fantastic effort that have been put in the fight against crime in Bermuda over the last 18 months.
Dunkley has loss his mind, he sees himself as governor after premier and will go at any lengths to regain power.
Sorry when was Dunkley in power? The political landscape in Bermuda is at it’s worst ever non of the political parties have enough intellectual capital to help Bermuda in it’s present situation and the ones that do are spending to much time just trying to remain in or regain power in stead of coming out with solutions to Bermuda’s issues. Example listening to a talk show yesterday the commentator was putting down bipartisan approaches to community issues because the PLP had won the government and therefore felt that they were the only ones who’s ideas should be herd on such matters even though the issues affect everyone. This makes no sense to me and flies in the face of the PLP mantra best person for the job. So what if the idea does not come from your party if it benefits everyone why not listen to it.
LOL I have used this example because I feel it encompasses the close minded approach to issues and an all superior than the voters attitude that some Politian and hard core supporters have. Yes we are in a majority rules democracy but remember the obligation that government has to all people within the country. Slavery at the time was a majority idea was it not?
It’s so funny how people think they have all the answers to stop crime in Bermuda. Little do they know that the real answers are behind those doors they ignore. How can you try and understand a criminals mind if you have never worn his shoes.
Thank you for those that have supported and attacked me, free speech is wonderful! Just read the statement one more time, I supported the Police for all that has been done. Yet we still have a lot of work to be done as the level of crime and violent crime is just not acceptable, and in saying this I am not blaming the police but all of us together. For those that think by attacking me I will go quietly into the night…think again. I love this island too much for that, I am willing to stand up, be counted and help do something about it. We can all do better than we are doing, we need to stop the rot of anti social behaviour etc. If there are some that think I speak to obtain power then nice try but sorry to disappoint. I wonder if some of these type of comments are from die hard PLP supporters trying to stop the rot ahead of an election. My aim is simple…a better Bermuda tomorrow than today. Let’s turn pessimism into promise. Let’s put people over party and stand as proud Bermudians! I am willing to stand up, talk the talk but also walk the walk. Join me…together we can make progress. Have a great day Bermuda.
Glad to see that you have chosen to join the debate Mr. Dunkley, maybe you will join with us or concerned residents in attending some of the community meetings being run by the Community Officers around the island, as someone who’s responsibility it is to comment on these matters you have been conspicious in your absence in supporting the Police’s efforts in the community. I have numerous friends and family members within the service, who are working extremely hard to keep us safe and they can do without you suggesting that the hard work they are putting in isn’t sufficent for your standards, you may say that you support the police but your original statement clearly implies that they are not doing enough or not what you’d like them to. Has it even struck you that the increase in reported crime may very well come from the fact that the public see the BPS’s successes and have developed relationships with community officers and are feeling more confident in reporting crimes. Again Sir, I challenge you a someone who allegedly cares so greatly for your country to at least make an occassional apperance at a police community meeting.