The Bermuda police have done outstanding work in bringing to justice many dangerous criminals in a never ending task to keep our communities safe. Often involved in tedious challenging probes, they never hesitate to stress that without the aid of the public some cases would still be on the unsolved list.

Police around the world are targets for criticism when something goes wrong, and that is expected since no police force is perfect. What is most important is that dedicated officers who serve with a high degree of professionalism put their lives on the line daily in difficult situations because they are committed to protecting and preserving civil order as their key responsibility.

Assisting police whenever possible should never be underestimated, because an alert public could be that third eye, essential in seeking clues to solving serious crimes that disrupt community life and leave citizens with an uneasy feeling about safety.

There are seldom loud cheers when police work intercepts a major illegal drug shipment. This could indicate the amount of customers in the public domain who keep this underworld business thriving.

The Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll and her crew, which played a significant part in working with the Bermuda Regiment in the major clean-up after the recent storms, were heading back to their duties in the Caribbean when they spotted a suspicious boat which may have been sailing for Bermuda.

A closer examination of the craft revealed the vessel was carrying over a million dollars worth of cocaine. Whether Bermuda was its destination, or some other island south of us, this chance encounter was instrumental in reducing the amount of illegal drugs that reach streets in the dark business of illegal drug activity.

Government officials and the police face an uphill battle to stamp out the trade, especially when huge questions remain about key players, and in some cases, for whatever reasons, the public often chooses to look the other way. Despite this, police must be given credit for pressing ahead with efforts to keep our communities free of illegal drugs that have already left a trail of broken lives.

Recently, in the United States, after so many abductions that have resulted in victims being killed, there was a classic case of good police work with public support that saved the life of a nurse. She was snatched by a hooded culprit after stepping from a public bus. In a rare twist, a security camera recorded the shocking event. One police chief said that in his 40 years of service he had never seen an abduction on camera.

Because of bad credit the culprit was driving a car with a hidden GPS system, which police used to track his movements. An alert member of the public played a role in providing tips after another camera captured his image while he was in a convenience store. Only moments later, a police task force quickly had the vehicle and the occupants in sight.

The suspect was apprehended without incident and the nurse was rescued with what were said to be minor injuries.

Although the abduction took place in Philadelphia, and the arrest in Maryland, police had praise for the media and the public in helping to avert what could have been another tragic ending. This highlights the importance of team work between the police and the public in fighting crime.

In recent years efforts by the Bermuda police to build a better relationship with the public seem to have paid off with improved cooperation in gathering evidence to bring about convictions in a number of cases.

With the festive season just around the corner, there will be appeals for the public to remain alert, as criminals never take a holiday.

Our society will be much safer if the public continue to provide police with the support they need.

Police have their hands full, but their task would be easier with more public support. We can only hope that public cooperation will become stronger in the quest to make Bermuda a great place not just for our visitors, but for everyone who calls this Island home.