Incapacitant Spray - Bermuda Police Association Chairman Detective Constable Carl Neblett

Thu, 2005-12-01

"The Bermuda Police Association in conjunction with the Bermuda Police Service have been dealing with this issue for quite some time and we are now pleased that this matter has been approved by the House of Assembly. The Commissioner of Police acknowledged all the support that was given in this very important initiative and the overwhelming support offered by the Governor and all interested parties.

The 'Captor' Spray will be a welcomed item to the Bermuda Police Service personnel accoutrements and this will definitely enable Police officers to better protect themselves and also offer support in protecting members of the public. I wish to thank the Honourable Minister of Labour, Home Affairs & Public Safety for pursuing this initiative on behalf of the Bermuda Police Service and the cooperation that was given to the Commissioner of Police during the implementation of this vital addition to officer safety equipment."


BPS Press Conference

Incapacitant Spray - PAVA - 'Captor'

Commissioner of Police

2 December 2005

Present:

Deputy Governor Mr. Nick Carter

Commissioner of Police Mr. Jonathan Smith

Commandant Reserve Police Mr. Huw Lewis

Sergeant Russell Matthews Public Order/Officer Safety Instructor

Deputy Chairman, BPA Sergeant Kevin Christopher

Today, I announce that the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) has made a significant addition to our Officer Safety equipment. Commencing in January operational officers in the Bermuda Police Service will be trained and equipped with an Incapacitant Spray which goes by the trade name 'Captor.' The spray is contained within a small canister and will be worn on the Police Officers' belts and will be ready for immediate use. The officers safety equipment is to be used only on those occasions when there is an immediate and serious risk to the safety of a Police Officer or a member of the public. Incapacitant Sprays come in several different options and they are used widely by Police and law enforcement officers in the U.S. and the UK The spray in these canisters has the ability to safely and temporarily incapacitate an aggressive and violent or armed individual until more effective restraint techniques are used or the situation is otherwise controlled. I would like to assure the public that officers will be permitted to carry Captor spray only when they have been fully trained to do so in accordance with the best practice for this specific training which we have mirrored from the UK.

The addition of this equipment is, to a large extent, a sign of the times. Officers have been seriously injured in the line of duty in recent years; members of the public have been victims of assault too. This equipment will significantly enhance our officers' ability to deal with outbreaks of disorder and violence and will also be used on those occasions where he have to prevent an attack upon a member of the public. The addition of this equipment is part of my deliberate efforts to enhance officer safety and improve operational response during my period as Commissioner. A full time Police Support Unit - now operating very effectively, improvements to our training, facilities and equipment for our armed Emergency Response Team members and now, improvement to our officer safety equipment brought this objective to reality.

The immediate threats to officer and public safety by machete or knife wielding offenders, other bladed weapons and implements which can cause severe injury or death can now be more effectively countered and controlled. I expect arrests to be possible under more controlled conditions. Officers will perform better knowing that they are better protected; the public will be more confident in our ability to deal with the contemporary policing problems we face. The high risks of serious assaults on Police will be reduced.

I have discussed this new equipment in detail with the Governor, in view of my responsibility to him for matters relating to operational policing and he has indicated his full support. The Minister of Labour, Home Affairs & Public Safety, the Attorney General, and the Government have been consulted and supported our efforts to improve officer safety and embrace our operational ability. I am grateful for this support. I am also grateful to the men and women of the Service who have waited patiently for the research and consultation to be done and for the approval process to be formalized. The Bermuda Police Association, represented here today by its Deputy Chairman, has been a strong advocate of this equipment and as a sign of how much I respect their support and consultation, the Association joins me in making this announcement. The Bermuda Police Reserves have thrown their support behind this initiative and they too are represented here today by the presence of their Commandant, Mr. Huw Lewis.

I firmly believe that this decision to equip our officers with an Incapacitant Spray is necessary; it will improve our effectiveness; it will immediately improve our officer and public safety; it will improve morale - indeed it has already by the feedback I have received in the BPS. The public can be assured that 'Captor' has been officially approved by the UK Home Office, the Police Scientific and Development Branch in the UK and the UK Department of Health Committee on Toxicity. We are all confident that those high standards in the UK, applied here, are sufficient to support our local decision in this regard.

I should add a cautionary note. Incapacitant Sprays such as 'Captor' are prohibited under the Firearms Act 1973. This equipment is illegal if in the public's hands. The BPS has an exemption under the Act to possess, train with and use such equipment and I will ensure that the very highest standards are maintained so that we ensure that we carry out our work effectively and within the law. Sergeant Russell Matthews has also joined me at today's announcement and he has additional technical information on the 'Captor' Spray and the training involved.


Witness Appeal

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the attempted robbery of two crew members from the HMS Cumberland on Court Street in Pembroke around 2:30am Wednesday, November 30, 2005. We are particularly interested in speaking with a taxi driver who was flagged down by a member of the public and took the two crew members to the 24 hour Esso City Tiger Market on Richmond Road in Pembroke following the incident. Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact Acting Sergeant Dean Martin at the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 299-4542.