Police staffing will increase by 35 officers in the coming months, the Bermuda Police Service has confirmed.

Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons said the recruitment was a meaningful step towards the BPS reaching its full strength of 420 officers.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, told the House of Assembly last week that 23 new officers are to join the police service in May and 12 are expected to join soon after.

Speaking to the recruitment, Mr Simons said yesterday: “This is essential for us to effectively meet the demands or expectations of our community, particularly around traffic enforcement and general police visibility.

“I express my appreciation to Minister of National Security, Michael Weeks, for his steadfast support in addressing the staffing levels of the Bermuda Police Service.

“His commitment to our mission of ‘Making Bermuda Safer’ ensures that we work collaboratively and creatively to get the resources necessary to create a safer environment for all.”

There are presently 364 police officers on the island.

Mr Simons said last July that a search was on for fresh recruits as police staffing on the island had fallen to its lowest levels in more than 40 years.

In November, the police commissioner said it had been about a decade since the law enforcement agency had full capacity.

In 2023, the BPS received more than 100 applications for officers, but only nine made it into the training course after the majority of applicants failed health and fitness or psychological tests.

A report released this year on the findings of a BPS cultural review prompted a pledge from the force to improve its service to the community.

Officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary in England conducted the review in 2024 at the request of Rena Lalgie, who was then the Governor.

On the topic of capacity, the report said: “Resourcing is by far the biggest challenge.

“The BPS has 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.”

It added that “tenacity and resilience” were among the most quoted positive traits of the organisation.

The report said: "Despite the shortages in resourcing and high demand felt by the organisation, the workforce expressed their ability to get the job done and remain resilient during difficult times.“

Mr Simons said then that while the review underscored areas in need of improvement, it also highlighted the resilience and dedication of officers and staff.

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

On Friday, Mr Weeks told MPs that the Government was making every effort through the National Violence Reduction Strategy to address “all manner and all stages of crime”.

He explained: “We are in the primary schools, the high schools and the middle schools and we’re out in the community clubs and sporting clubs.”

Mr Weeks added: “This Government is making every effort in making Bermuda safer.”

The strategy, which was launched last year, was based on a three-tier structure consisting of a steering committee, an enforcement team and a community response unit.

It had eight goals, including early intervention, strengthening community resilience and support systems, and the “restoration” of gang members.

Mr Weeks said among the measures implemented to curb violence in the community was engagement with all stakeholders, including families.