BERMUDA REPORTS
Gang Initiatives Update
8 January, 2019
The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Caines, JP. MP. said, “Change comes from planning and the committed implementation of that plan. The Government has devised a thorough, multipronged and disciplined plan of action to address the antisocial behavior in Bermuda and I have complete confidence in its success.
“I understand and appreciate the opinion of community activists and will always welcome their support, and be available to work with them. However they do not have access to the overall ministerial plan, which includes the gang violence strategy, key goals, objectives, deliverables, and the matrix of accountability for the Gang Violence Reduction Team.
“Government’s plan includes the involvement of key community stakeholders and activists, along with the Bermuda Police Service and other organizational bodies that are supported by intelligence and data.
“The implementation of this plan does not include responding to every comment made by the public. Our focus is as it should be, on the implementation of the solution for the betterment of Bermuda.”
The following is a brief synopsis of the many agencies involved in the eradication of antisocial behavior in Bermuda followed by our year over year success to date.
Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team (IGET)
8 January, 2019
The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Caines, JP. MP. said, “Change comes from planning and the committed implementation of that plan. The Government has devised a thorough, multipronged and disciplined plan of action to address the antisocial behavior in Bermuda and I have complete confidence in its success.
“I understand and appreciate the opinion of community activists and will always welcome their support, and be available to work with them. However they do not have access to the overall ministerial plan, which includes the gang violence strategy, key goals, objectives, deliverables, and the matrix of accountability for the Gang Violence Reduction Team.
“Government’s plan includes the involvement of key community stakeholders and activists, along with the Bermuda Police Service and other organizational bodies that are supported by intelligence and data.
“The implementation of this plan does not include responding to every comment made by the public. Our focus is as it should be, on the implementation of the solution for the betterment of Bermuda.”
The following is a brief synopsis of the many agencies involved in the eradication of antisocial behavior in Bermuda followed by our year over year success to date.
Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team (IGET)
- The Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team (IGET) working group uses all available resources, information and intelligence to identify persons, locations and groups, who are deemed to be the greatest risk to our community through their association or connection with criminal gangs.
- Chaired by Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels
- Monthly Meetings with Bermuda Police Service, Customs, Immigration, Department of Education, Court Services, Department of Child and Family Services, Gang Violence Reduction Team.
Bermuda 2019 Crime & Safety Report
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Bermuda at Level 1, indicating that travelers should exercise normal precautions.
Gang activity plagued Bermuda between 2009 and 2012. After a period of calm, it has shown some evidence of returning in the last two years. Gang activity is generally insular; there have been no reports of gang violence targeting visitors. Despite evidence of increasing gang tensions, overall records of firearms incidents – predominately associated to gang activity (confirmed and unconfirmed) – fell from 82 in 2016 to 47 in 2017.
The Department of State warns United States citizens against taking any type of firearm, ammunition, or component of a firearm into Bermuda. The Bermuda government strictly enforces its laws restricting the entry of weapons and ammunition. Entering Bermuda with a firearm, some bladed instruments, an ammunition magazine, or even a single round of ammunition is illegal, even if you bring the weapon or ammunition into the country unintentionally. You must seek permission to import or own a gun in Bermuda in advance from the Bermuda Police Service. You must secure any privately owned firearms at Bermuda Police Headquarters. Violations may result in arrest, convictions, and potentially long prison sentences. Bermuda considers pepper sprays and stun guns as dangerous weapons and classifies them as illegal.
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Bermuda at Level 1, indicating that travelers should exercise normal precautions.
Gang activity plagued Bermuda between 2009 and 2012. After a period of calm, it has shown some evidence of returning in the last two years. Gang activity is generally insular; there have been no reports of gang violence targeting visitors. Despite evidence of increasing gang tensions, overall records of firearms incidents – predominately associated to gang activity (confirmed and unconfirmed) – fell from 82 in 2016 to 47 in 2017.
The Department of State warns United States citizens against taking any type of firearm, ammunition, or component of a firearm into Bermuda. The Bermuda government strictly enforces its laws restricting the entry of weapons and ammunition. Entering Bermuda with a firearm, some bladed instruments, an ammunition magazine, or even a single round of ammunition is illegal, even if you bring the weapon or ammunition into the country unintentionally. You must seek permission to import or own a gun in Bermuda in advance from the Bermuda Police Service. You must secure any privately owned firearms at Bermuda Police Headquarters. Violations may result in arrest, convictions, and potentially long prison sentences. Bermuda considers pepper sprays and stun guns as dangerous weapons and classifies them as illegal.
BERMUDA NEWS
We are family: The reality of gangs in Bermuda
Byline info is not available
For years the jury has been out as to whether Bermuda has gangs in the way most of us think of gangs — the Crips, the Bloods, LA-style collectives who’ll kill and be killed to protect each other. In reality though, it’s not like it’s everyday news.
Even when the so-called gangs did make news several years ago they basically told the media not to call them gangs because they didn’t think they were gangs.
Government used to play down their existence, too. Culture Minister Dale Butler, among others, has particular beefs about the whole ‘town and country’ phenomenon saying it’s a nonsense to think people, often relatives, are really that divided simply because they live a couple of miles down the road from each other.
But that’s all changed. Now, all of sudden, there’s no doubt about it. Bermuda has gangs. Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton announced this week he’s pouring $350,000 into an anti-gang plan to be drawn up by American expert and former cop DeLacy Davis.
We attended one of Mr. Davis’s seminars yesterday at the new Berkeley Institute, part of the Government’s Multi-Addictions Conference.There were about 20 people in the room, mostly professionals including probation officers, counsellors and youth workers. They were predominantly women.
Mr. Davis gave two talks, ‘From Childhood to Ganghood’ and the one we attended ‘The Concept of Gangs as Family.’
Byline info is not available
For years the jury has been out as to whether Bermuda has gangs in the way most of us think of gangs — the Crips, the Bloods, LA-style collectives who’ll kill and be killed to protect each other. In reality though, it’s not like it’s everyday news.
Even when the so-called gangs did make news several years ago they basically told the media not to call them gangs because they didn’t think they were gangs.
Government used to play down their existence, too. Culture Minister Dale Butler, among others, has particular beefs about the whole ‘town and country’ phenomenon saying it’s a nonsense to think people, often relatives, are really that divided simply because they live a couple of miles down the road from each other.
But that’s all changed. Now, all of sudden, there’s no doubt about it. Bermuda has gangs. Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton announced this week he’s pouring $350,000 into an anti-gang plan to be drawn up by American expert and former cop DeLacy Davis.
We attended one of Mr. Davis’s seminars yesterday at the new Berkeley Institute, part of the Government’s Multi-Addictions Conference.There were about 20 people in the room, mostly professionals including probation officers, counsellors and youth workers. They were predominantly women.
Mr. Davis gave two talks, ‘From Childhood to Ganghood’ and the one we attended ‘The Concept of Gangs as Family.’
Gangs in Bermuda
BY Josh Ball December 11, 2017
That there are gangs in Bermuda is not news – they were here long before the ill-advised assertion in the 1990s that there were no gangs, only “loosely organised groups”. That these gangs are populated by young men who operate on the fringes of society is also not news. Between January 2009 and November this year there were 35 gun deaths attributed to gang violence in Bermuda, with another 90 people shot and injured. In the courts there have been 20 convictions for murder, 19 for attempted murder, 17 for unrelated firearms offences, and one conviction for manslaughter. During that time the police have seized 47 guns.
BY Josh Ball December 11, 2017
That there are gangs in Bermuda is not news – they were here long before the ill-advised assertion in the 1990s that there were no gangs, only “loosely organised groups”. That these gangs are populated by young men who operate on the fringes of society is also not news. Between January 2009 and November this year there were 35 gun deaths attributed to gang violence in Bermuda, with another 90 people shot and injured. In the courts there have been 20 convictions for murder, 19 for attempted murder, 17 for unrelated firearms offences, and one conviction for manslaughter. During that time the police have seized 47 guns.
