Police: “Uptick In Violent Crime On The Island”
Over the last five days there have been incidents of violence on the island which “marks a small uptick in violent crime on the island” and “in most cases there has been a pre-existing relationship between the victim and the suspect” the police said today, adding that they “will be working with the community partners to see what can be done to address this trend of domestic violence.”
Recent Incidents
January 5th: A 60-year-old woman was stabbed in an incident on Angle Street. She is recovering from her wounds, and a 61-year-old man was charged in Court with causing grievous bodily harm to her by unlawfully wounding her.
January 8th: Two women were arrested after an 18-year-old Pembroke woman was assaulted in the Curving Avenue area at around 2.45am, with the police saying that the “two female suspects attended the victim’s residence and assaulted her with a baseball bat.”
January 9th: At approximately 10.45pm there was a shooting in the Happy Valley Road area, which resulted in a 37-year-old male being taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
January 10th: At about 5.35pm, police attended a report of an incident in Cedar Park in which a 24-year-old woman was stabbed. A 21-year-old woman fled the scene and police are currently looking for her.
Audio Comment
The audio below is of Police Media Manager Dwayne Caines speaking at the scene of last night’s stabbing, in which he addresses the stabbing, shooting as well as the recent uptick of incidents.
Police Comment
A police spokesperson said, “Over the last 5 days there have been 5 notable incidents of violence on the island, this marks a small uptick in violent crime on the island.
“It should be noted that in most cases there has been a pre-existing relationship between the victim and the suspect and as such most victims appear to have been specially targeted by someone they knew.
“Over the next few days the Bermuda Police Service will be working with the community partners to see what can be done to address this trend of domestic violence.
“Emotions often run high in domestic relationships-situations emerge where anger management and conflict resolutions skill are tested.
“No amount of violence is an acceptable in resolving domestic disputes. There are community outreach programmes; such as Women’s Resource Centre, The Family Centre, the Bermuda Police Domestic Violence Officer; that can provide counselling and support to help steer people through these trying times.
“Once again it is not acceptable to resort to violence of any sort to resolve issues.
“The Bermuda Police Service will be deploying Officers From the Community Action Team in the affected areas to see what can be done to help.
“We are also reminding the public that they are a key component in the equation and if you see something or no something please make contact with the police on 2950011.
“Or if you do not wish to call the local police you can call the independent and confidential crime stoppers hotline on 800-8477.”
There is a direct link to the economic issues and social unrest. We as a community to assess this. Bermudians are frustrated!! Many arent working and the young men and women of this community are feeling the hardships of this. We are in a very unfortunate place!!
So which one of the events is related to unemployment?
One appears to be domestic violence while the others stem from personal beefs.
Stop excusing the perpetrators from their actions.
Well at least we have’nt got to the point like the U.S. College/University Campus syndrome.
That’s it Commissioner Desilva. Keep getting rid of Officers and maybe by the time you get to thirty, you will realize a big mistake. Just like Lenny Edwards did years ago!!!
Y4es, there should be a policeman in every house making sure there aren’t any acts of domestic violence.
I can guarantee between the officers who have not had contracts renewed, those who have voluntarily resigned, those who have resigned and those who have retired, you have surpassed 30 officers already. I can also guarantee that there are more to come.
Crime is linked to the economy in that it cost to police it. There’s only one true organisation on the island to deal with crime and I think that the government should really consider that when they cut the chief of police budget.
The Gov needs to hand out free supplies of tea.
Fact: tea calms people down
drink more tea
toodles!
Well that’s what Mark suggested and look at de backlash.
You mean Marc….You really don’t live here do you Onion Juice. You don’t even know how to spell your personally worshiped leader’s name.
Throwing Jeers I see,, how mature of you,, nice.. “personally worshiped”
And yet the Minister of National Security has ignored the facts . Residents of several neighborhoods are frightened after hearing multiple gunshots . The elderly are scared .
The uptick in violence shouldn’t be occurring after three years of a UBP/BDA/OBA government . It’s the worst in five years . Does anyone feel safer in Bermuda then they did five years ago ?
Yes I feel much safer.
I think we gotta look at the root of all of this violence. How much violence did these people see as kids coming up which was the household norm for them? How many of them had to take care of themselves while mama had to work two or three jobs while daddy was absent? How many kids had to fan for themselves and entertain themselves even there was a mana n daddy in the house? You can’t blame any political party, government, churches or orgamisations for the decisions some people make. There are a lot of people suffering, hurting, hungry, jobless and homeless. We need to ask ourselves what are we as individuals doing to help these people. I believe we need to start encouraging our broken people with words of “do what u know is right in your heart” instead of retaliation n encouraging the wrongful acts of violence by retaliation. Let’s change our mindset and stop pointing fingers at everyone else but ourselves… It takes a village to raise a child and we need to be our brothers keeper instead of their (attempted) killer. Lord have mercy!
Actually, one can blame the churches.
Thanks for spreading the hatred.
Unless any of these are religiously (or ‘morally’) motivated (and I sincerely don’t believe anyone in Bermuda is THAT strong in their convictions) then ..what blame do churches warrant?
Let’s not forget the boy the police allegedly beat on January 1st. It seems like it all started there. How come we haven’t heard any more about that?