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2021 Press Release July 26 Cup Match 2021 Policing Plan.pdf

Police will have a “very robust” plan in place throughout the Cup Match holiday period, including the possibility of extra gang units in light of Sunday night’s double shooting on Court Street.

Asked about heightened police activity Superintendent Sean Field-Lament told The Royal Gazette: “In the build up to the Cup Match weekend we conduct what are called community tension assessments which form the basis of our threat assessments.

“That is an evolving process. The unfortunate events of Sunday night are being investigated, I am aware we consider it to be gang related and it will be factored into our risk assessment.”

Police have said the shootings, which were not life threatening, were believed to be gang-related. The two victims, both 19, were yesterday released from hospital where they were taken by private vehicles.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the 11.20 pm incident to come forward and assist with the investigation into this incident by calling the independent, confidential Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477, the serious crime unit at 247-1739, or the police line 211.

Mr Field Lament said: “There maybe more gang units visible looking to engage people but we have a very robust police plan in place anyway.

“There will be a lot of police on the road – that high visibility approach is what we will have In place.

“If specific information comes in we will address the risk as and when it arrives. I want to reassure the public that this will be a safe weekend with the necessary resources available.”

Representatives from the Bermuda Police Service, St George’s Cricket Club and the Ministry of Health provided an update on health and safety measures being put in place, at a press conference held at the club yesterday.

Mr Field-Lament appealed to the public to help police achieve their goal of keeping events safe. He said for the second year a joint agency command centre will work collaboratively including the BPS, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Department of Health, and St John Ambulance, among other agencies.

Mr Field-Lament said that the Ministry of Public Works had closed traffic access to Wellington Slip Road during Cup Match to ensure “free and unfettered” access to the venue.

He stressed that there would be no ticket sales at the gate and said parking will be available at St George’s Preparatory School, East End Primary School, Mullet Bay Park and Tiger Bay.

“There will be patrols at Horseshoe Bay Beach and Clearwater Beach to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday,” he added.

He said Operation Vega, a police campaign to crack down on bad driving, will be in place. “Drive responsibly and most importantly keep your speed down and respect all road users.”

Mr Field-Lament also reminded the motoring public that roadside sobriety checkpoints will be in effect throughout the Cup Match holiday.

Romeo Ruddock, project manager for St George’s Cricket Club, said that tickets for the game, which takes place on July 29 and 30 at Wellington Oval, St George’s, can be purchased online for $15 at www.gpass.bm.

Cup match tickets will be limited to 4,000 patrons per day and will only be available to those who have a negative Covid-19 test result and scanned Safe Key.

He said: “You need to make sure you have a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before the event and you have access to a Safe Key. Everyone that comes through the gate will have to have their Safe Key scanned in order to come in.”

Pre-scanning will be available on Wednesday from 12pm to 3pm at the Bermuda National Sports Centre parking lot in Devonshire and on Wednesday evening at the St George’s Cricket Club from 6pm to 8pm.

Patrons will be given a bracelet to indicate they are scanned. At the main gate there will be an express gate for those who are pre-scanned.

Neil Paynter, president of St George’s Cricket Club, said the festive atmosphere of Cup Match will still be present this year.

He said: “We will have Crown and Anchor, there will be food stalls around and scaffolding up. We are hoping that everyone comes down and enjoys Cup Match.”

Susan Hill Davidson, senior Environmental Health Officer for the Ministry of Health, said that masks must be worn where individuals are less than six feet away from others and in crowded or enclosed spaces. She warned that marshals will be on duty to check adherence to Covid-19 rules and reminded the public to stay hydrated, and wear a hat and sunscreen in hot weather.

The event will be televised and will be shown on Channel 82 and livestreamed on bernews.com. There will be radio commentary on Power 95 and Hott 107.5.