Survey: 83% Satisfied With Police
Speaking yesterday [Nov.18] Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief provided details on a recent survey which said 83% of respondents were “either completely or had a high level of satisfaction with the Police.”
The Minister said that between June 20th and July 4th of this year “random telephone interviews with a representative sample of Bermuda residents aged 18 years and older were conducted to determine the public’s views on the Bermuda Police Service.”
83% of respondents had a high level of satisfaction with the Police, 42% of people who had a positive experience with the Police indicated that personal, helpful service from officers was the reason, and 67% of respondents express a level of interest in neighbourhood involvement as a means to address crime.
Minister Perinchief said, “These are encouraging trends which speak volumes about the effectiveness of the Island’s Policing Strategy and the men and women who execute it daily. This Government fully supports the efforts of the Commissioner, his Senior Command and the Officers of the Bermuda Police Service in the execution of their duties.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share with this Honourable House a summary of the findings of a Public Perception Survey commissioned and conducted for the Bermuda Police Service.
Mr. Speaker, between June 20th and July 4th of this year random telephone interviews with a representative sample of Bermuda residents aged 18 years and older were conducted to determine the public’s views on the activities of the Bermuda Police Service in the community.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members should be pleased to note that the Study found that residents are increasingly confident in the Police Service. Concern about crime remains high but residents have seen the positive impact of bringing criminals to justice and convictions in the courts as a result of Police investigation.
Mr. Speaker, criminals are being caught and in many cases suspects are apprehended and brought before the Courts quickly. These actions significantly enhance public confidence in the Police Service’s ability to solve crimes.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Bermuda demanded stronger police presence and this has been implemented. The increased contact with the Police in the community has been positively received and 42% of those persons who had a positive experience with the Police, indicate that personal, helpful service from officers was the reason.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, respondents described the officers of the Bermuda Police Service as professional, respectful and courageous.
Mr. Speaker, these are encouraging trends which speak volumes about the effectiveness of the Island’s Policing Strategy and the men and women who execute it daily. This Government fully supports the efforts of the Commissioner, his Senior Command and the Officers of the Bermuda Police Service in the execution of their duties.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most significant findings of the Study is that 67% of respondents express a level of interest in neighbourhood involvement as a means to address crime. Mr. Speaker, I believe that strong, empowered communities are the building blocks for a safer Bermuda.
The confidence inspired by Police presence and action has created a groundswell of community involvement that will promote public safety throughout the Island.
Mr. Speaker, Community Action Teams are led by officers of the Bermuda Police Service and engage communities in their Neighbourhood Watch activities by providing guidance and on the ground assistance at the grassroots level. I was privileged to spend time in these areas with the officers on the CAT Teams and found a spirit in these communities that is simply awesome.
Mr. Speaker, in each of the CAT Team areas, residents have bonded with the officers, they have cleaned up overgrown sites formerly scenes of anti-social behaviour and have stamped their positive authority on the neighbourhood, driving the elements of negativity away and underground.
The leaders of these groups hail from all backgrounds and they are united in the common purpose of providing a quality of life in this country commensurate with a welcoming business and tourism jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, the work of policing in these times is not easy. On all fronts social and economic issues have added to the existing pressures of life in this affluent society. The Bermuda Police Service has proven to be firm but fair, present but not overbearing, effective without persecution. 83 % of respondents in the Study were either completely or had a high level of satisfaction with the Police.
Mr. Speaker, those findings are no accident. The strategy is working. Criminals are being brought to justice and communities are confident and empowered. We must continue to support these efforts.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bull$hit
PROPAGANDA!!
I know the Police have a tough job to do and the way our society is going ,it’s getting harder by the day but the Police need to drastically inmprove their interpersonal and communication skills .
Far too many lack the ability to deal with the public in a caring manner and speak with intelligence when they are called on to deal with someone who has been the victim of a crime .
And I’m fed up with being the victim of thefts and burglaries and never hearing from them again after the first contact.
Most police officers, prison guards, security officers get into these type of positions so they can bully people around, it’s proven statistics look it up .
Personally I’m satisfied with the Police. It’s citizens who have no idea what it means to be a citizen that I have a problem with. The police service was created to ASSIST citizens NOT to completely take over the job of preventing and reporting crime. They were never meant to do the job without the help of the citizenry. So if you are dissatisfied with the police, you should be dissatisfied with your own performance as well. Its no different than expecting the school system to fulfil every aspect of child rearing or expecting the government to perform every task in society.
its not the police that’s the problem. They’re doing fine catching the criminals. The courts are the problem, because once the police catch them the courts let them go free for all sorts of foolish reasons!
Lie$
what a load of crap.
My last few interactions with the police-
1 -assualted, and almost stabbed by a person in front of a witness ,ie almost ended up wounded or dead,PERSON THREATED TO KILL ME
reported and made statement to police,even supplied name and adress of person they cant be arsed to doing any thing AFTER NEARLY 3 YEARS . enquiries in to status of incident are not responded to.
Bermuda police Fail
2 -called about 2 persons casing houses on street at night, – answer- what do you want us to do?
Bermuda police Fail
3 went to afamily members house , found burlar in house , called police, no uniformed police turned up , burglar got away -6 hours later SOCO turn up, \
Bermuda police Fail
and I can go on and on