The Bermuda Police Service continues to urge the motoring public to slow down and use care, caution and courtesy on the islands roads, especially when the roads are wet. Motorists are reminded to leave at least one car length between vehicles in good weather and at least two car lengths between vehicles in wet weather. The Bermuda Police Service also resumes its appeal to all cycle riders to ride responsibly by not creating a third lane or weaving in and out of traffic. In addition we are strongly advising the drivers of all vehicles (cars, trucks etc.) to drive defensively, with due care and attention to their surroundings.

The Roads Policing Unit will be out on patrol checking for vehicles with illegal tint as well as for any unlicensed and/or uninsured vehicles. Motorists are also warned that any ‘loud vehicles (with either modified/defective mufflers or loud music emanating from them) are liable to be ticketed or impounded.

During the week of Monday, March 17th – Monday, March 24th 2008 there were:

• Reported Injury Collisions = 18
• Reported Damage Only Collisions = 50
• Arrests on Suspicion of Impaired Driving = 4
• Vehicles Reported Taken Without Their Owners Consent = 15
• Parishes where vehicles were reported taken from: St. Georges = 2, Smiths parish = 2, Pembroke = 6, Devonshire = 1, Paget = 3 and Southampton = 1.

The majority of vehicles removed were auxiliary cycles & motorcycles, with one car and one van removed during the week. Of the 15 vehicles reported stolen, 2 were subsequently recovered.

Any members of the public who may have specific classes or issues they would like the Bermuda Police Service to deal with are encouraged to please e-mail us at communityclasses@bps.bm or to call 299-4249 or 299-4321.

The Marine Police Unit would like to remind the boating public that as of April 1st all vessels in the water MUST display a 2008 lime green decal and the correct registration numbers of the vessel as issued by the Department of Marine and Ports Services. This includes punts and kayaks. Marine Police officers will be patrolling various areas and any infractions will be dealt with accordingly.

The Marine Police Unit would also like to take this opportunity to remind boaters to ensure their vessels mooring is in good shape for the season. The ground chain and bridles should be checked for wear and replaced if necessary. All moorings should also display their 2008 lime green decal as issued by Marine and Ports Services.

• AVOID carrying large sums of cash and where possible pay for purchases by cheque, credit or debit card.
• If you must use an ATM to obtain cash, choose one that is located within a bank or shopping mall. Avoid SECLUDED ATMs wherever possible. If using the ATM at night, choose one that is well illuminated. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need. Shield the keypad when you enter your PIN to prevent anyone viewing your transaction and obtaining your number. Retain your receipt and notify the card issuer immediately if the card is lost or stolen.
• DO NOT LEAVE PURCHASES on the seat of your car, but lock them in the trunk. When you approach your vehicle, have your key ready and always be aware of your surroundings. Do not approach the car alone if there are suspicious people standing by.

Press Release of the Extraordinary Joint Meeting of the Caribbean Community Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs

East Coast Demerara , Guyana March 19 - 21, 2008

CARICOM Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs met in Guyana from March 19 – 21, 2008 in an extraordinary joint session to review the current crime and security environment in the Region. As articulated in the opening remarks by Co-Chairs of the Meeting, Commissioner Trevor Paul and Brigadier Edmund Dillon, both Trinidad and Tobago, as well as by Ms. Lynne Anne Williams, Executive Director of CARICOMs Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the meeting was mandated by CARICOM Heads of Government at their 19th Intersessional Meeting held in The Bahamas from March 7 – 8, 2008.

Heads have requested that the Meeting identify critical national and regional anti-crime and security priorities and brainstorm options for policing and security responses considered necessary to achieve a reduction in crime and violence in the immediate and short term, even as the Regional Crime & Security Strategy is updated for consideration at the political level. Among the general issues reviewed were the proliferation, trafficking and use of firearms and drugs; kidnapping, murders, gangs and maritime piracy. The outcomes of this meeting, including the possibility of introducing a regional response capacity and the enhanced use of technology to support law enforcement will inform the Crime & Security discussions due to take place at the CARICOM Meeting of the Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law Enforcement, to be succeeded by the Special Summit on Regional Security, both scheduled to take place in Trinidad & Tobago in April 2008.

In attendance were security chiefs from Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and assembled Associated States Anguilla and Bermuda. Delegates also included the Chairs of the CARICOM Standing Committee of Chiefs of Immigration and of the CARICOM Standing Committee of Comptrollers of Customs; the Chair of the Regional Information Technology Sub-Committee (RITC); Crime and Security Programme Coordinator of the CARICOM Secretariat; and Directors and other senior officers of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC) and the Regional Security System (RSS).

The Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs reiterated their pledge of full support to the local security Chiefs in their current crime fighting efforts.

This simply means that based on policing demands, the Bermuda Police Service has identified a group of individuals that potentially can be called upon to fulfill our policing needs. 174 officers were short listed for interviews. Of those 101 were successful, consisting of 31 trained officers and 70 civilian recruits (or civilians who will come to the island and become fully trained as Bermuda Police officers). The Commissioner still remains fully committed to training Bermudians and spouses of Bermudians; however recruiting overseas is considered another policing option, as our local recruitment campaigns have not yielded the numbers necessary.