AEROSOL CANS AT PUBLIC EVENTS

Thu, 2005-08-04

It has recently been brought to the attention of the Bermuda Police Service (BPS), the developing and dangerous trend of persons projecting fiery streams from various aerosol cans or other apparatus at public events, indoors and outdoors. The BPS is concerned about such practices posing a real threat to public safety. Such practices have the potential to result in serious harm or injuries to attendees at public events, or serious damage to property, either accidentally or by willful acts. Given the recent spate of violent acts at public events in the recent past, it is of utmost concern to the BPS that the fiery use of aerosol cans and other similar apparatus can easily be adapted for use as offensive weapons, or for other unlawful purposes, which would then result in serious offences under the provisions of the Summary Offences Act or the Criminal Code.

The BPS would like to appeal to the Public to refrain from the practice of carrying aerosol cans and other similar apparatus to public events, and to cease from projecting fiery streams from such devices at public events. The BPS would like to also differ with comments that were recently made publicly by a concert promoter, Mr. Andrew Phillips, who stated that the practice in question is strictly celebratory or gestures of support to artists, and there is no problem or reason for alarm with the practice. Under no circumstances, the fiery projection from aerosol cans and similar devices in the midst of crowds at public events should be considered safe. The Public may well be aware of the recent unpredictable inferno that was caused from what was considered a safe pyrotechnic display in a club in Rhode Island in the USA, where scores of people died or were seriously injured. The BPS recognizes that there are still several public events planned for the rest of the summer and would further like to appeal to all organizers and promoters of public events to ensure that they exercise a responsibility of not allowing the public safety to be put at risk, through the practices in question.

Over the past two years, the BPS has worked more closely with many public event and concert organizers to increase the safety and security of these events. The BPS wishes to remind concert promoters and events planners, that it is their responsibility to create a safe environment for such events. Permitting aerosol cans and similar devices into public events for fiery displays jeopardizes the safety of those attending such events.