Tue, 2009-07-21

At 6pm on Sunday, July 19th Police responded to a sighting in the City of Hamilton area of a 43 year old Devonshire man who was wanted in connection with a report of a home invasion that occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning (July 18th). The incident involved a grievous bodily assault and possession of a firearm.

Officers pursuing the Devonshire man converged on him and eventually made the arrest near to The Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel. This significant arrest - for Aggravated Burglary with a Firearm and Grievous Bodily Harm - was in no way connected to the activities taking place at the hotel.

The Bermuda Police Service takes great exception to the unfounded allegation that arrests made by our officers in connection with our daily duties were calculated to disrupt a community outreach effort. To further allege that arrests were made with a corrupt motive - without a shred of evidence to support the notion - is irresponsible and scandalous.

The Bermuda Police Service is committed to making Bermuda safer by bringing offenders to justice in strict accordance with the laws of this Island. That mandate has recently been made loud and clear by the Government and people of Bermuda given the increased gang activity, and we make no apologies for the perceived inconvenient timing of our law enforcement activities.

We sincerely hope that the visiting Minister will withdraw his statement in light of the Service's track record of supporting community efforts to reduce crime and acknowledge that our primary role as a law enforcement agency must take precedence in our operational priorities.

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