Police have given details into the make-up of the body of officers who responded on December 2 to the protests outside Parliament.

The group included officers who would normally be attached to the Police Support Unit — however Michael DeSilva, the Commissioner of Police, has clarified that the officers were not deployed as such.

According to Mr DeSilva, the group included officers from a variety of departments.

The Bermuda Police Service includes a PSU staffed by uniformed officers trained to Level 1, or special tactics, in public order response, the Commissioner said.

He was speaking in the wake of yesterday’s press conference by the Progressive Labour Party calling for an independent investigation into the incident.

“The remaining uniformed operational officers are trained at public order Level 2. Additionally, all operational officers, uniform and plain clothes, are trained in officer safety tactics that include handcuffs, batons, incapacitant spray, and Taser.”

Mr DeSilva said that officers deployed on December 2 to clear the gates to the House of Assembly included “officers who are normally attached to the PSU, along with other officers from various units and departments”.

That day’s events, which included the use of pepper spray on members of public, is to go under an independent review by a senior British police officer, according to the Governor, John Rankin.