The Minister of National Security expressed confidence in plans made by the Commissioner of Police to address areas for improvement in the Bermuda Police Service.

Michael Weeks’s remarks came after the release of findings from a cultural review carried out by a British constabulary that included a survey of officers on the island.

The BPS said this month that their leadership team was committed to addressing concerns raised in the review and that an action plan would be developed to implement recommendations with a focus on areas such as resource allocation, internal communication and professional development.

Mr Weeks said last week: “The findings of the recent cultural review of the Bermuda Police Service highlight the organisation’s strengths, of which there are many, as well as areas that require attention.

“These findings underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue and improvement within the service.”

He added: “It is important to emphasise that the review notes the BPS as a high-performing and advanced force, particularly in comparison to other jurisdictions.

“The officers’ and staff’s professionalism and dedication in serving our community remain commendable and I thank them for their continued commitment to keeping Bermuda safe.

“I have met with the Commissioner of Police to discuss the report.

“I am confident in the commissioner’s plans to address the identified areas for improvement as they are comprehensive and forward-thinking, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive culture within the service.”

The findings of the cultural review, which was carried out last year by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary at the request of Rena Lalgie, the Governor, were compiled in a 21-page report released by the BPS this month.

In its executive summary, the document said that events on the island and internationally, including the “sudden departure” of former police commissioner Stephen Corbishley and the Covid-19 pandemic, had affected the service.

It added that a number of events had “compounded into low morale across the organisation and a less-than-positive culture”.

The report said that challenges faced by the BPS included its capacity.

It explained: “Resourcing is by far the biggest challenge.

“The BPS have 360 officers at the time of writing, with little to no surge capacity, based on a budgeted headcount of 400.

“The reasons for this stem from a multitude of reasons: there is a perception that people feel burnt out, there are difficulties recruiting the right calibre of applicants both locally and overseas as well as retaining them, suitability of officers joining in the first instance, a natural cycle of a large cohort of officers coming up to retirement and there is a generational shift — with policing no longer seen as a career for life, with officers joining and staying for shorter periods of time.”

Mr Weeks said last week that resourcing was already being addressed.

He added: “For example, two new recruit cohorts are under way to strengthen the force’s capacity.

“Additional resourcing needs, such as training and support services, will be evaluated and addressed where feasible as part of our commitment to ensuring the BPS are equipped to meet current and future demands.

“Finally, I am pleased to note the progress being made within the BPS to empower all service members and build a positive organisational culture.

“As we move forward, the Ministry of National Security will continue to work closely with the BPS leadership to ensure these efforts yield meaningful and lasting results for Bermuda.”

A service-wide survey that was compiled in the report had a 46 per cent response rate from 196 participants, which included a question asking for a description of the culture at the BPS.

The report said: “The positives from the responses highlighted that there is a good sense of community — by far the word used the most. People are proud of the public service they provide and of their diverse workforce.

“The negative words that were used most frequently were ‘toxic’, ‘racist’ and ‘fear’.

“Toxic was used in relation to PSD [professional standards department] matters and from the sense that there was unfairness in parts of the organisation.

“Fear was used in context to repercussions of speaking out and not being listened to. Racist was also used.”

When the report was released publicly on January 15, Darrin Simons, the commissioner, said: “While the review highlights areas where morale and culture need improvement, it also underscores the resilience and dedication of our officers and staff.

“I’m immensely proud of their unwavering commitment to serving our community, especially in the face of significant resource challenges.”

He added: “This review is not just about identifying issues; it’s about growing stronger as an organisation.

“We’re dedicated to building on our strengths and addressing our weaknesses to better serve Bermuda.”

Ben Smith, of the One Bermuda Alliance, yesterday highlighted the need for the police service to be properly resourced.

He added: “There are a number of gaps which are identified in the report, but I am confident that Commissioner Simons and his top brass can successfully develop a plan which will boost morale, attract quality recruits, offer the training needed and empower officers.

“It will be important to continue to change the culture that led to words like racism, toxic, fear and harassment being mentioned by several respondents so that there is more focus on the pride and community.”

He said it was “imperative that manpower be increased”.

Mr Smith added: “We have made this a focus in our platform to provide these resources so that our police service can be supported to do their job while becoming more available in all communities, which in turn will increase the confidence both in the service and in the community.”

• To read the report in full, see Related Media

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BPS Cultural Review