Police Stop & Search Almost 6,000 People
[Updated] In the three month period of April 1st to June 30th 2011, the Bermuda Police Service undertook 5,952 stop-n-searches, an average of around 65 a day.
Stop-n-searches increased by 34.7% [+1,532], as compared to the first quarter of this year, and increased by 123% [+3,283] as compared to the same quarter last year.
The figures were released in the Police Crime Statistics report, and the statement said, “Stop and Searches are conducted in a proportionate and accountable manner and only when Police Officers have occasion to exercise lawful powers. They are carried out with courtesy, consideration and respect for the individual being stopped.”
“While the figures are not performance indicators, they are a reflection of the frequency of engagement between proactive Police Officers and Prolific Priority Offenders. They provide an indication of police activity, particularly regarding the number of highly visible patrols in the community.”
Stop-n-searches refers to the activity of Police Officers utilising their powers to stop and search a person where lawfully justified under PACE (2006), Criminal Code, Misuse of Drugs Act etc. PACE was implemented on 7th September 2008 and since then this policing activity has been specifically recorded.
They are normally conducted island wide, with a greater frequency in areas prone to gang violence. Residents are stopped and searched, and are then given an official form notifying them they have been stopped, with notations made if any property was seized.
Update: Audio of Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva answering whether the stop an searches have located a firearm, to which he answered no, but said they are discovering a lot of drugs and also discouraging the carrying of firearms.
The Commissioner said, “The average monthly rate by comparison has risen from 300 per month in 2009, to 800 per month in 2009, to 1,700 per month during this year. The vast majority of these searches are conducted under Section 315F of the Criminal Code [search in anticipation of violence]. They are designed to disrupt the rhythm of gang members and discourage people from carrying weapons. I would like to thank the rest of Bermuda’s public for their patience and support through these operations when they are unavoidable inconvenienced.”
It is interesting that they only state the amount people as a whole. What i would like to see is how many of those stop and searched where found to be in contravention of any law? and what was the racial breakdown of those actually stopped?
Well, if your always watching your missing everything and need glasses.
Just to bring you up to date. Roughly 60% + in Bermuda are Black. So that means that same percentage is using everything plus the roads and atteries. Certain percentages live in areas of high crime and recent violence and deaths.
Sh@t….I give the freek up…………………….I don’t know why I even waste my time time here. Did you know that in China more Chinese are arrested for………………
70% of us Bermudians are black.
60% of the total residential population is black.
And I hope the cops used profiling to make their efforts more “risk based”. It’s also called using intelligence.
OK, using the U.S as an example of racial profiling. There is probably %65 whites, %20 Spanish/Hispanics and %20 Blacks and %4 other. Why in the U.S more blacks are pulled over then whites, statistically? They dont have nearly as many black people then white in NO STATE but black people are pulled over more.
Thats racial profiling at its best. Pull over who looks suspicious and if you happen to be brown skinned with a baseball cap and shades, that will be you getting pulled over..The same can be said about in Bermuda. It doesnt matter if the Officer is black, he is controlled by his boss who majority are white. Nicholas Pedro and the guy Desilva.
blam
Your point is invalid because the percentage of blacks here is higher than in the U.S. The population here could be 99% and you would still be crying about racism.
Also, where are you getting those stats from? Don’t just be throwing out numbers without backing them up
You just proved that in Bermy its not racial profiling the police are using Ganja. So it must be the look some people have ie street wear, hidden id (visors, and such) tricked out bikes, speeding could be anything. The fact the Bermy is the revers of the US in population completely negates you logic. So if there was no racial profiling happening I agree the stop and searchs in the US would have more whites stopped. Why in Bermy would you expect anything else? It’s called the law of nimbers.
LOL
thats all fine and dandy but how many weapons have been uncovered compared to the amount of people who are now on the Stop List for personal possession of a joint? Stop n search was made illegal under EU court of law because the majority were racially profiled, and the same thing happens in Bermuda. and if they are normally targeting prolific offenders, well near 6000 is totally messed up for this small island.
This is the first good sign. Maybe the police are the only folks doing more for less. But in the backdrop of all this crime is rising in Bermuda. My full support to the police who are now faced with the fallout of a govt policy of co-existance with the gangs. Gangstaa friendly. Now that policy has exploded in their faces, and the cops have to deal with it.
wow 6000 people, i wonder if the BPS keeps statistics on how many blacks were pulled over compared to other races. Funny, BPS knows what they are doing…..
i also wonder if among those statistics are how many of the blacks were dressed as if they came from work, and how many were dressed in gang colors or generalize street gear…
also i wonder of the non-blacks, how many were in street style clothing..
i think you’ll find theres a good percentage that give the vibe of trouble by means other then skin color.
Ever unexpectedly approached one of these ‘pop-up’ road blocks/search points and had the cars and bikes in front of you suddenly jam brakes and do u-turns in a serious hurry ?
Ever noticed what the drivers happen to look like ?
“Racial profiling ?” Yep , I guess your right …. smh
exactly my point Bicky, its not abot what percentage blacks are on the island, but who BPS targets. Its been like this way before i was born and will never change.
Some of you people really need to get your head out of the sand. Statistically more black people will be pulled over because our Country is predominantly black, HELLO!! I’ve been stopped three times, I’m of mixed race but when the average Bermudian looks at me they assume I’m white. P.S. Two times I was stopped it was by black cops once by a white copy. I’m sure if you checked in with the police department they have more black cops on the beat than whites. So please get over the whole race issue.
SMH for Premier !! Second time today you’ve been the voice of reason for me!
I used to be a white cop on your paranoid island. When I was greeted with, “You’re only picking on me because I’m black” I always used to reply, “and you’re only saying that because I’m white.” Sometimes PC Cholmondeley would appear from the back seat and the whole conversation would change. Come on Bermuda, wake up and smell the coffee!
The BPS needs more neighborhood stop and searches than on the main roads!!
Police need to roam in neighborhoods 24/7 like cell phones and crack heads do.
Then come back with realistic stats like…
Like how many crack heads you’ve arrested.
How many house break-ins you’ve prevented.
How many guns you’ve found in yards/houses.
Sorry BPS but reporting road side stats isn’t telling me you hard at work.
As a black male, I’m not worried about the race percent. It’s our own silly black on black males, silly chicken head loving females and non-existing parents that make this seem one sided.
Keep searching!
I could care less that 6000 stop and searches were done during X timeframe, I can care less about the racial makeup.
How many of those SAS’s were positive for warrants, drugs or other offenses?
That IMHO would be a better indicator of effectiveness, if say out of 6000 SAS only 500 bore fruit is that an effective use of manpower?
Bermuda = Citizens wtih no rights. They can search you at a whim. Feels like a Police State in my opnion. My real question is. Who is policing the Police?
I agree.
Wow, that’s 10% of Bermuda’s population! Of course the majority are blacks but that’s because the disparity in numbers. And to the dumb-ass that said it’s racial profiling. How can you compare the U.S with Bermuda?
By the way is it legal to pull someone over with no probable cause? Hmmm, sounds unconstitutional to me but hey Bermuda laws are different than U.S. laws.
@ GPS
The fact that the BPS are crowing about this high number of Stop/Searches is embarrassing and should not be used as an indicator of efficiency or success.
It suggests a poor use of manpower.
eg. My neighbour (66 years old) was driving out of the city with his 86 year old mother in the front seat, and 2 grandchildren strapped in car seats in the rear. He was stopped by the BPS, asked for his licence, which he produced. No problem there!
The officer seemed disappointed that all was in order and asked him where he came from and where he was going. The answers were given, which seemed to anger the officer even more. He then asked the driver to open the boot, suddenly changed his mind and grunted “you can go”. No explanation etc. was given.
Add one more to the useless body count!
@Rockfish….I heard of a similar story of senior citizens getting pulled over, then getting a yellow slip to say they where stopped and searched….like what a waist of money to even get these yellow slips printed!….our Police Commissioner gotta be joking to have this enforced.
I have a respectful, college educated son. He has been stopped at least every other weekend he is out! One evening he was gonna be stopped twice! They stopped him going up the hill to his aunt’s house and when he came down they tried to stop him again untiL one police officer reminded them “we got him already!”
I do not know exactly what profile they are acting on! he does not frequent “known” areas; he has no convictions; he has no affiliation with gangs; he’s simply a youngBlack man trying to enjoy his summer break before returning to college!!!
Sure. You sound just like all the other mothers of criminals who would know full well her child is doing wrong and still testify that he is “a good boy” or “he isn’t in a gang.” How do you know? Are you with him every waking moment of his life?
don’t need to be with him every waking hour!!I am not one to turn a blind eye, I am known to call a spade a spade and if my child was involved in any criminal activity I would turn him in my self!!!
I wish The BPS Would stop trying to look like they are doing a Good job!! I’m innocent as can be and have gotten searched 3 times for what? Absolutley nothing. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like show real statistics on out of all those searches, It would be nice to know how many citizens have been caught. Cuz I can assure you. thousands have been innocent and harrassed for no reason.
You all know where every Hood Street Crew hangs. How bout Posting up and getting them?? Ohh Yah I forgot . the Innocent always Suffer…!!
Fed Up.
blacks do more of a pack ,, straight ,,and im black
THANK YOU!!!!! Finally someone who isn’t afraid to speak the truth.
These are usless numbers. Why don’t they tell us how many arrests and convictions came from these searches or how much drugs and weapons they obtained from these searches. How many of those 6000 people were regular law abiding citizens who had nothing on them and a clean record. The majority I bet. They use these stats to try and make it look as though the BPS is doing a good job but are they really? How effective are these stop and searches? From what I’ve read before, the BPS knows who most of the gang members are so why don’t they use their manpower to stop and search those guys every day, multiple times a day. Instead they want to stop and search elderly people, families and honest hardworking people. They might come across something if they get lucky but if you target your searches and stop the gang members constantly then you would be guaranteed to catch them slipping up at some point and be carrying a weapon or drugs that can be used to convict them and send them away for awhile. The BPS may fool some people with these useless numbers but not me.
So what about new gang members? Really……………
LOL
Are you reallly going to go with that as your argument? LOL. How big do you think this island is? You think gangs are out there recruiting new members every day? Get real LOL, stop watching Gangland on TV and tune back in to reality.