Labour Day Holiday Policing

Wed, 2022-09-07

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Martin Weekes - "The Bermuda Police Service would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their cooperation in ensuring there were no major policing incidents during the recent Labour Day holiday weekend.

Whilst a number of reports were made to police, they were generally in connection with minor incidents such as loud music complaints, which were quickly resolved using a Community Policing approach.

Arrests however were made in a number of cases resulting in a total of 39 arrests made over the long weekend.

Sadly, despite it being publicised that Roadside Sobriety Testing checkpoints would be deployed throughout the weekend, eight individuals were arrested whilst driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

One of those arrests involved an individual who upon taking the breathalyser test, recorded a reading of 197 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. That is more than twice the legal limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Thankfully, our policing efforts resulted in these individuals being taken off the road, preventing any tragedies from occurring. However, the BPS reminds and encourages the public to take responsibility for their behaviour and simply do not operate any kind of vehicle if you have been drinking or may have taken any mind altering drugs, legal or otherwise.

Also of concern is the fact that close to ninety individuals were issued speeding tickets, with the worst offender being clocked at 96 kilometres per hour. Bearing in mind, the speed limit is 35 kilometres per hour.

There were two people arrested for possession of bladed articles – knives. In one instance, police received a report of an individual with a knife at an establishment on Front Street in the City of Hamilton. Officers went to the location and approached an individual fitting the description of the suspect. A knife was recovered from him and he was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where he was detained.

In the second incident an individual who had cause to attend Hamilton Police Station was arrested and upon being searched and found to be in possession of a knife.

Both individuals have since been released on police bail pending further investigations.

Again I wish to thank the public for their cooperation and understanding when delayed on the roads due to the requirements of Roadside Sobriety Testing Checkpoints as well as those set up where required to prevent acts of violence and the carrying of weapons."