Thu, 2012-04-26

Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva - Overview: Over the long term, total crime continues on a downward trend and remains virtually unchanged from the previous quarter. At 1,163 total crimes, the quarterly average is consistent with the previous 12 month period. Moderate increases in some categories have been equalised by moderate decreases in others. This is within the normal ebb and flow of individual crime classifications that we would expect to see from quarter to quarter. For a more accurate crime picture, statistics are normally compared over periods of 12 months and longer.

FIREARMS:

The first three months of 2012 recorded 36 firearm reports of which 16 were confirmed. These included 1 fatal and 2 non-fatal shootings. At the time of the murder of Stefan Burgess in January, there had not been a fatal shooting in 8 months since the death of Jason Smith in May 2011. The other 13 incidents included the recovery of 2 illegal guns, 8 recoveries of illegal ammunition, 2 shootings where there were no injuries and 1 other crime was committed with the use of a firearm. The remaining 20 reports were unconfirmed. This represents a reduction on the previous quarter and shows an overall downward trend over the last 3 years.

Five Supreme Court gun-related trials this year have resulted in 7 convictions for various offences including murder, attempted murder, firearms possession and armed robbery. Sentences have included imprisonment for 10, 25 and 38 years. This represents a 100% conviction rate for firearms-related crime in 2012 and is the continued product of joined-up law enforcement, prosecution and community support. Since 2009, there have been 33 trials and 28 convictions for gun crimes.

OTHER CRIMES:

• Crimes Against the Person remains about the same with a reduction in robberies being offset by an increase in assaults. A series of high profile home invasions resulted in 19 arrests, 11 persons charged before the Courts and significant property recovered including a firearm.
• Crimes Against the Community recorded 22 more offences than the previous 3 months, but it is lower than most of the preceding 16 quarters. An increase in antisocial behaviour offences (offensive words, threatening behaviour, etc.) accounts for the change.
• Crimes Against Property decreased by 26 offences. However, decreases in thefts, fraud and tourist accommodation burglary were offset by an increase in residential and commercial burglaries. At 237 offences, residential burglary is at its highest level in four years and has been the subject of multiple warnings and advisories to the community for several months now.

DRUG SEIZURES:

Total drug seizures for the first quarter of 2012 are down over previous quarters. This must be set in context against the backdrop of last year’s massive haul of $52 million worth of drugs, primarily at the borders by the Department of Customs and by overseas agencies acting on tip-offs from Bermuda. 21 Kg of illegal drugs were seized in the last 3 months with a value of $1.9 million. Three-quarters of the drugs were interdicted at the ports of entry by customs officers and about $365,000 worth was taken by police from the streets.

ARRESTS:

829 arrests were made in the first quarter, about 64 arrests per week, which is down from previous reporting periods. About one third of all arrests related to court issued warrants. Of the remainder, the top five arrest categories were:

• All Assaults (88)
• Drugs (69)
• Property theft (67)
• Impaired Driving (67)
• All Burglaries (59)

OTHER NOTES:

• Stop / Search checks fell below 2000 for the first time in two years.
• Traffic enforcement fell slightly below average at about 9,200 reported offenders or 700 tickets per week.
• Traffic collisions declined for the third consecutive quarter, falling below average at 444 or less than 5 collisions per day. 1 fatal collision was recorded.

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