Police out in strength over Cup Match weekend
Police will be out in force over the Cup Match holiday weekend in a bid to deter criminal activity and “restore peace” after a number of violent crimes in recent weeks.
However, a senior detective insisted that members of the public had a role to play in preventing crime during a traditionally busy time for the Bermuda Police Service.
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Smith said that up to 250 officers would be on duty over the next four days, and a special task force had been set up for intelligence gathering.
Mr Smith said that the BPS was deploying significant resources, but that the public were “the ears and eyes” of the community.
At a press conference today, Mr Smith said the BPS had devised “a very robust plan” to prevent crime during a string of events taking place over the holiday weekend.
He said: “In response to this weekend, there is a specific task force that has been set up of officers within specialised units that will be out in force.
“This task force will be intelligence-led to provide a safe place for people to go and enjoy themselves.
“This task force will be intelligence-driven and we are appealing to you today to assist us in our policing and in particular our intelligence-led policing.”
Mr Smith said examples of suspicious activity included motorcyclists wearing dark clothing, gloves and winter jackets “in the heat of the summer”.
He said: “Those are things that might cause you some alarm so we’re asking you to pick up your phone and give us a call.
“That information that you pass on in real time can then be passed on to the intelligence unit and the task force to act.
“If you hear any conversations, overhear people talking about different events, different things, intelligence, anything that can help us, we’re asking that you pass that information on to us as well.
“The mark of a good police force is to prevent and not detect crime, and so with your assistance in the next coming days and even into the future ‒ if you assist us, then we can ensure that the island is restored back to peace and tranquillity.”
Mr Smith said that retaliatory attacks were always possible in the wake of violent incidents, adding: “When we have events like we’ve had these last couple of days, there’s always retaliation that we get intelligence about.
“That’s the kind of information we’re looking for. If members of the community hear that, please pass that information onto us.
“But overall our objective, particularly this weekend and going into the future, is to be able to provide a style of policing that not only enforces the law and deals with those individuals who are committing offences but also so that the public can be safe.
“We are going at it all that we can to provide a level of protection and security. We’re moving and shifting resources from specialised units.
“Within this plan we have specialised talent and we are committed to ensuring the island is safe, but we need the public’s support. That’s the main message.
“We need you to call in to give us information, to give us intelligence, because you are the ears and the eyes that see where we don’t see.
“Where you see those things it is important that the community picks up the phone and that they call us ‒ because we do have a team able to respond.
“We are channelling resources in a very specific way to address these issues that we are currently dealing with.
“As a police service we’re looking to prevent crime and the way we can prevent crime is when we have full co-operation and participation from members of our community.
“We have a lot of resources and tools that we can use. But the key is the community. We really must work together so we can restore peace back to our island.”
There will be a high presence of police officers, security staff and members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment at Horseshoe Bay tomorrow and at Somerset Cricket Club on both days of Cup Match.
Superintendent Jerome Laws said the BPS is working with the agencies, Somerset Cricket Club staff and the Department of Parks “to discourage members of our community who may seek to disrupt these specific festivities with acts of violence or antisocial behaviour”.
Speaking at the club, he added: “Additional police resources will once again be co-located on site at the joint agency command centre at Somerset Cricket Club, with a local security firm, St John Ambulance plus other related stakeholders prepared to respond to any calls for service in a proportionate and appropriate manner.”
A drone will direct police to any calls for service at Horseshoe Bay.
No glass, knives or bladed utensils will be allowed into Cup Match grounds, which will open at 6am tomorrow and on Friday.
Mr Laws residents and visitors were encouraged to have fun but were reminded to do so "in a safe and responsible manner“.
He added: “Please drink responsibly if consuming alcoholic beverages and be considerate of others.
“Avoid parking anywhere that will block emergency vehicle and residential driveway access.
“Finally, do not ride or drive on the roads impaired and do not operate any watercraft while impaired.
“In closing, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and his senior leadership team, we wish each and every one of you a safe and enjoyable Cup Match.”
Mr Smith said that roadside sobriety checks and stop-and-search measures would be in place and that the public should show patience.
He said: “The public can expect that there will be some disruption as the police go about the activity of protecting.
“We are encouraging you, members of our community, that as the police officers are out in force that you exercise some patience while the officers conduct the various checks and various inquiries to ensure your safety.”
Anyone with any information about any incident was asked to call the main police number on 295-0011, or 211. Mr Smith can also be reached on 717-0864.
• To see photographs from the HSBC Cup Match motorcade, see Photo Gallery on The Royal Gazette website
• UPDATE: this article has been updated with comments delivered at Somerset Cricket Club this afternoon
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