Police: ‘An Increase In Weapons Being Used’
The police said they have “noticed an increase in weapons being used when attending incidents” and noted that the “Criminal Code empower the Police and the court system when it comes to dealing with weapons offences.”
A police spokesperson said, “Over the last few weeks, officers within the Police Support Unit [PSU] as well as service-wide have noticed an increase in weapons being used when attending incidents.
“The public are reminded that amendments to section 315 of the Criminal Code empower the Police and the court system when it comes to dealing with weapons offences.
“When a suspect is caught with a knife or any other bladed or pointed article, that person will be arrested and will remain in custody until the next available court session. This is to expedite and drive home the seriousness of these offences.
“Upon reaching court, a suspect may find themselves serving a mandatory three year sentence as well as a $5,000 fine. This is for a conviction in the Magistrate’s Court. If the matter is heard in the Supreme Court, the offender stands to face a mandatory five year sentence as well as up to $10,000 in fines.
“A definition of bladed and pointed weapons can be as follows:
“Any type of knife or any homemade item which has a blade or a sharp point. Simple construction tools such as screwdrivers and chisels are included. Also encompassed is anything that has been sharpened. To give you an example, even a sharpened toothbrush would count. Most usually encountered by Police are machetes and kitchen knives.
“Offensive weapons encountered by Police will be items made and adapted to cause injury. Without giving too much detail on what these items are, something as simple as a piece of rope with a blunt object on the end of it.
“This will be sufficient to cause injury when used. A conviction in Magistrates Court can land an offender with a two year sentence as well as a $1,500 fine. A Supreme Court conviction will lead to a five year sentence as well as a $5,000 fine.
“We ask that members of the public who work with knives, gardening tools or anything else which could be deemed a weapon leave these items at work or immediately take them home upon completion of work. It will not be an excuse at 3.00am to say that the machete we just caught you with was used for trimming trees and that you just knocked off work.
“We have heard all the excuses and are able to easily investigate any claims made by an offender.
“We urge parents to be aware of what their children are up to and where and with whom they hang out with. If you can, be aware of what items your kids are leaving the house with and take note of anything that could be deemed a weapon as previously described.”
More words.
If not used against an officer, no action.
Threats by government and there will be no action unless one officer is…
A conviction ‘can’ lead to a sentence needs to be reworded to a conviction ‘will’ lead to a sentence. This rightly serious sentence of imprisonment will only act as a deterrent if it is enforced. Any effective teacher or parent knows that rules are only respected when they are enforced.
The next generation of Bermudians
Cant we tone it down a bit . Brother against Brother solves nothing.
This is only hurting Bermuda’s future and getting us no where .
Every body has got the history lesson.
We can’t change or relive the past.
Even to day every body gets a raw deal i have had my home broken it three times for what? used stuff.
Cant blame me i was not born back then.
Its a new day tomorrow we all need a brighter future.
It all starts by saying ” Good Morning”.
We need one another cant you all see that.