The Governor has praised the Bermuda Police Service for its “professional handling” of last week’s protests around the House of Assembly.

Large crowds gathered around the Parliament building for five days to express their strong opposition to the Bermuda Government’s plans for immigration reform.

“I know that they will have had their critics, probably from both sides of the argument,” said the Governor, George Fergusson. “Policing events like these involve difficult judgments. But I am clear, the police have a duty to maintain public peace as well as to enforce the law.

“These can be two different things, though it is not good if they diverge too far or for too long.

“The law should not be broken. However, it is not always sensible for the police to apply zero tolerance at the time, especially when emotions are running high.

“There was a risk of violence last week, despite the good efforts of the protest leaders to prevent this, and violence would have had serious consequences for the whole community.

“Although the police will no doubt be learning lessons too, in my view the police got this right.”