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http://www.theroyalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d88aaf30030003&sectionId=60 (http://www.theroyalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d88aaf30030003&sectionId=60)

Okay yes something needs to be done ... kudos for the plan for more youth facilities ... but ... anyone else feel he kinda missed the point?

In my view this is another Americanised solution ... well a solution that our friends to the west will approve of.  Crack down on the drug dealers to the point where some of us may feel their human rights are being infringed ... two issues ... first its not just the drug dealers ... its the gangsters, gun traders, loan sharks, dog fight organisers, illegal gaming house operators, bike thieves, pimps and on and on and on ... but hey murderers get lighter sentences than drug dealers here already so business as usual I guess ... and it keeps those "special" friends happy ... [increased penalities for all gang related criminal activities is my suggestion] ... second why infringe anyone's human rights? ... well or potentially do so ... this didn't play out well for those to our west in the war against terror ... and likely won't play out well here either ... [yes yes I know drug dealers are lower than low ... but they are still human ... well somewhat] ... also its going to be hard to actually make prosecutions stick if their human rights are infringed or if this appears to be the case ... essentially if that human rights line is crossed then why bother with the prosecutions? ... these individuals will just be freed and may end up having substantive claims against the government arising from such infringement of their rights ... now tough talk is all fine and well ... but ... well I guess we all must trust that our enforcement officers will know the lines they cannot cross without making their efforts to stop these crimes futile.

Still kudos for not ignoring the issue and the tough talk ... I'm sure we will all be watching how this new governmental stance plays out.

PS:  Cracking down on the drug dealers will have the effect of driving drug prices up ... we all should expect a short term increase in other crimes as addicts attempt to meet the "inflationary" cost increases ... in my opinion the government must also focus on the rehabiliation of these addicts and their reintegration into our society in addition to the proposed new youth facilites and stronger stance on drug dealling.

This Government has created some positive laws when faced with crisis – a good example (INMHO) is the Bladed article laws which ahs good penalties and has reduced the number of knife carriers.

The biggest challenge to me is the actual enforcement of the laws – lets be real - there are many Bermuda Police Officers who have the necessary integrity, drive and guts to get the job done – but there are others who may not have a real sense of interest in what happens in Bermuda, others without the necessary training and experience and again others who are simply ‘playing’ on the other team!!

Let’s be real – there are Officers in every Police Service (including the BPS) who are involved in criminality – that is a given – there are statics, reports etc. on this through out the policing communities that support this……

The challenge with hard enforcement in Bermuda is the size of the Island – Officers are (myself included) threatened on and off duty….from the beach to the supermarket…..throw in families, kids and other factors and things become even more complicated….

The majority of success the BPS has had with ‘special types of operations or enforcement’ is when the Officers are hand picked to do what is needed…..

In my view, the BPS has lost over the years many such Officers and it is increasingly harder to get such a team together again….

For such a crack down to work – a team of Officers should be recruited on a short term contract to deal specifically with the problems of drugs and gangs….such a team could effectively deal with the massive challenge that is now faced and leave a more manageable problem to be looked after…..the biggest problem is making the first in roads……

Such a plan could include past/retired Officers many who live overseas (who know the laws, the players, the Island etc) as well as specifically trained Officers on attachment from other Police forces….through the Caribbean to the UK etc…

If the right team is put together and is supported by a Gang or Drug Court to have these matters heard in quick time (yes maybe some night and weekend courts!) – Again if grounds exists all arrested suspects would need to be remanded in custody pending their EARLY court appearances…..

Much could be done and there is the expertise in the Service coupled with outside Officers that could really make some headway into this crisis and leave a more a manageable problem after an aggressive and sustained period of enforcement – maybe a six month plan….

Again the issue is not with the laws or new laws … but having the right group in place to work in partnership with all the stakeholders to ensure some much needed measurable result are delivered and that the communities concerns are addressed…..

Nothing in what I say should be seen as a criticism of any serving or past Officer – but there are some challenges to policing a small Island and I believe these challenges have become greater in the last years……making suggestion an idea...not so crazy!

Piglet

A very good post Piggy and brings back memories of "Operation Clean Sweep". It will as you say take a course that would require much 'attachments and secondments' that would take time and paperwork but that can be overcome with and when heads are put together.

The only problem I have with your post is..."( including the BPS) who are involved in criminality- thats a given". Mabe I am reading it wrong but that sounds hippocritical on your part and your last paragraph contradicts the above.

Possibly I am having a bad hair day and can't understand what you wrote but give me your opinion on mine.

Your contributions here are immesersable and so common sense.

Regards

Rummy.

Ps. If I come back can I bring my .9 with me............. :)

         

                                                                  :yawn:

       Oh-Hum......another of Brown's pretty speeches for his supporters  to keep saying he's doing a great JAWB! ......

  Remember the oldies tune "I've Heard That Song Before?  - I know it well, that melody"    - well I've heard that speech before - I know them well, those idle words."

                                                    :P

Ver yoo bean chiel? Glad to see you back. Oh...the words...? Good script writer. ;)

Rummy,

What I am trying to say is that by the numbers there must be some level of corruption in the BPS ...I don't know who....but the law of averages tells us there has to be some!

However, the vast majorities of past and present Officers have and do serve with distinction - hence the end paragraph....

Piglet

So we're getting a SWAT team. 

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d88b3e30030000&sectionId=60

While I completely support the idea of getting tough on these thugs that are running around stabbing and shooting people, don't we have an Emergency Response Team that plays pretty much the same role already?  I'd like to see how this 'American Style' SWAT team will be different.

Thank you Piggy.

I rest my case ... an "Americanised" solution indeed.

K to Piglet for calling it regarding the need for an external team ...

It would appear we are going to war here ... better keep your heads down folks ... and keep your kids at home ... buy them a new Playstation/Xbox game and stock up on soda and snacks (if you can) ... this is not the time for them to be hanging out.

I kinda thought the same thing D.  I'm not sure how much different this "SWAT" team could be.  If they roll around troubled areas A-Team style then I might see some benefit from it but I'm not holding my breath on this one.

I doubt if I am overstepping my here but just an opinion.

Since we don't know the full details of this new operation I would hope that we all can keep an open mind. Yes we do have a socalled "SWAT" team. But according to what I have read they are not operational all 24/7. And lets be fare, they can't be at places et al.

Since we have the Hon. Governor involved, I am sure that talks have taken place with regard to this and not only at a Cabinet level.

There will be no socalled team running around at will. I am sure that if and when something is put in place it will be overseen by locals and reinforced by from wherever the rest of the make up is from.  It will take sometime to place as I am sure they are not calling in the US Marines. Sorta like sending a bunch of cops from here to NY City and saying deal with it. We would not have the local contacts and knowledge.

Plus, something like this would involve 24 hour coverage. To be less would be a wasted exercise.

Then again, I hope this is not a prelude to Marshall Law or an occupation. Things need to be done, lets do it right and get the Public involved as much as we can. In fact, they are the answer to most of our ills if we can just get them to swallow the 'pill'.

Much will be said of this but just my two cents.

A great day to all.

Rummy.

Ps. I am sure I missed a lot but we don't know all the details so better wait till we all know what we talk about upon presentation by Government. ;)

I am not privy to the thinking behind a SWAT Team – so I reserve any immediate judgment.

What I do now is that the BPS has an ERT – which is the UK/Canada version of a SWAT Team –less some of the ‘made in America’ stuff...which is SWAT!

I don’t know if the idea is to have that ERT as a fulltime team on the streets?...not a bad short term idea....

I still think there needs to an enforcement team to make the cases, prosecute the cases and put the bad guys away….in my experiences I have yet to see a SWAT team do any investigative work…..charge in and charge out maybe!

Too early for me to call….there are some sharp cookies still around the BPS (look at me …hah …ha… :slap:....) so we will have to see what the nuts and bolts of this announcement actually include……

Piglet

But thats what I said.........yah hallways steelin dee lymelight howt uv mihy rum................yah meen ann um nut...forgat hit.....um gowin have a fag........................ann anuddar bur..............

 ;)

Piggy....yah so hun hinformed........SWAT............comes from Dunkleys Diary..........

Stoopid White Advancing Turds.................................. ???

An "uncalled for" response.

Oh Darky....lighten up.........Thats why we all go round in circles. No matter what anyone says, someone takes offence. Try laughing at yourself once in a while. I do all the time and try to find something in it.

Therein lies the rub, thats why we are at the point we are today. If I want to come here and be politically correct with what is socalled 'accepted' it would be boring as shit. Some peoples transport is too high, thus the 'get off your high horse'. Me? I ride an ass, easily mounted and gets three deserts to the fill.

I need a rum...........Um joining dee Liburatsheon Marksman ting........dey neeid ah sharpshooter....... :slap: :yawn:

It takes a while to filter down to the little Piglets.....but we are hearing that there was a big meeting about crime and the police in which no one from the Police were invited?... ::).....

One of the results of the meeting was to 'get' a SWAT team.....the BPS has and does have an excellent Emergency Response Team (ERT) which meets and in many cases exceeds the requirements of the UK and relevant policy....

The unit is a part time unit made up of a number (a sizeable number) of Officers.....

Everyone is kinda 'surprised' (oops)...that Bermuda and the BPS will be ‘getting’ a team that as already been in place and existence for the last 25+ years?.... :o......

Should the Team become full time instead of part time?...should more ARV's be on the road?...should there be more AFO's?...all of these would be sensible questions....

As I and others have said – an ERT does not make cases and put people behind bars – they facilitate entry, arrests and other special functions for Investigators …who are the ones who make the cases….

But to say you are 'creating' something that already exists and functions at a very high level...just shows me that another 'decision' has been made without bothering to consult any of the stakeholders...which is becoming a pattern of late..... ;).........

Piglet

ARV – Armed Response Vehicle

AFO – Authorized Firearms Officer

 :approve:

Ps. GDH...you forgot them.....................Karma too the first that figures out that Rummyism....

Thanks for clarifying the situation for us, Piglet. 

It sure sound like more political posturing by Brown and Co... have a press release, make outlandish promises, wait for the next shiny object to come along to distract the voters, repeat.

 :-\

I liked this line, which you hear from Dr. Brown far too often:

"We have not worked out any of the logistical details"

Translation:  "We have not given this any real thought whatsoever, but it sounds good and might make people feel better for a while"

An interesting Editorial today - some points that Piglet and others have been trying to say for some time.....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Editorial: Fighting crime
……………………
While any review of criminal law is welcome, and the Criminal Code needs a long overdue overhaul, the reality is that the Island's laws with regard to violent crime are already comprehensive and tough. It is not the law that is the problem.

It is the enforcement of the law, sentencing practices of the courts and, most importantly, naïve early release policies in the prisons that have made a mockery of the law as a deterrent. Even when a person receives a prison sentence, they won't be serving much more than a third of their time.

And while this enabled the PLP to say that it had reduced the prison population in the last General Election campaign, it did nothing to either deter crime or to reduce recidivism. The real deterrent is to arrest wrongdoers, successfully prosecute and then have them serve out their sentences.
……………………

@SG.... ;)........

Piglet

One more thing that is getting o my second to last nerve....is the misunderstanding about:

SWAT which is a name for a specialized group of Officers - the same group of officers can and are called:

ERT - Emergency Response Team
SRU - Special Response Unit
HRT - Hostage Rescue Team.
ESU - Emergency Service Unit

and probably a whole bunch of others - but the bottom line is all the teams and the functions are the same - in the USA they are called SWAT...in other places they have other names.....

Piglet

PS one of the names that didn’t last long was FART (Fast Action Response Team)...... :slap:.....

My favorite is the Taiwan National Police's "Thunder Squad"

 :approve:

Piggy I think I spotted two of your SWAT members a week ago Thursday at the Hamilton Market Place. I was getting my Coffee and Pastry for breakfast and in walks two Officers (male & female) carrying what I imagine Rummy's .9mm to look like. They made no effort to conceal these weapons, infact I got the impression they wanted people to take notice! What's this all about? I remember a few years back a Government House Police Officer was dismissed for carrying his side arm in public!

The visible display of fire arms is to "re-assure" us ... and yes its having exactly the opposite effect!