Govt. eyes starting SWAT team
By Amanda Dale
Government is exploring bringing in a US-style SWAT team to tackle gun crime on the Island.
The measure is part of a crackdown on weapons and anti-social behaviour following last week's drive-by shooting of Prince Barrington Edness, 22, and the stabbing death of Kellon Hill, 18, on August 9.
Premier Ewart Brown warned: "Those who choose gunfire to settle their disputes should be on alert.
"Our strongest stand yet against your senseless violence could be on the horizon. We believe the time has come to explore the formation of a Bermuda SWAT team."
The Bermuda Police Service already has an Emergency Response Team, manned part-time and scrambled as situations arise.
It is as yet unclear as to whether the SWAT team would be an independent unit. Dr. Brown said yesterday: "We have not worked out any of the logistical details but yes, they will be armed and capable."
The 'get tough' approach is part of a "roadmap" on tackling youth violence following a Special Session of Cabinet. Announcing the raft of measures aimed at "ending the anti-social behaviour among young people that is threatening our country's very way of life", the Premier was joined by Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Public Safety Minister, Senator David Burch.
Sir Richard said: "As the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues tackle these social issues, they will have the strong support, but silent support, from Government House."
He said the SWAT team was likely to be manned by officers from the Bermuda Police Service. "I've been impressed by the standard of marksmanship and gun handling in the Police already, so it is building on that," said Sir Richard.
"That is where we need to start from."
The Governor said that the arrival of 40 new Police officers recruited from Bermuda and the Caribbean would "take the Force up to its full complement and we should see some differences in the long term".
He said a team from the UK Police Service is also coming to Bermuda to give advice on tackling anti-social behaviour.
"There will be some 'wiseheads' coming out from Britain," said Sir Richard. "I am not going to elaborate but they will be working behind the scenes."
Speaking on the rise in anti-social behaviour, the Premier said: "We must stem this tide."
Dr. Brown said: "As the Cabinet gathered last night we were inspired by the memory of young people who have left us too soon, and energised by citizens across Bermuda who tell us they had had enough. We too have had enough.
"As I have said before, we believe the strongest line of defence in this fight lies in the hands of parents.
"That belief has not changed. However, it is critical that the Government lead the way.
"Our plan is robust and wide-sweeping and challenging, but it has a real chance of success because all of us agree that the time has come. We must act now or we run the risk of losing too much."
The Premier said that although the anti-social element among Bermuda's youth was a minority, "it is a destructive minority, and possibly a contagious minority".
Commenting on Government's 'roadmap', Senator Burch said: "I don't want people to think of this as a magic bullet to solve all of our problems.
"Everyone has a role to play and I would urge people to ask themselves 'What can I do to assist Government?'.
"The situation is serious and we are taking it seriously. I can assure you that law and order in this country will reign supreme."
Government's immediate short-term measures are:
— A review of Bermuda's laws. Within the next ten days, a panel of legal experts will examine legislation relating to law and order in the country.
The Premier said this was necessary "to ensure they are able to deal adequately with the current climate of criminal behaviour we are seeing in our country".
"If the nature of our crimes has changed, then the laws will need to follow suit," he said.
— Greater Police presence on the streets and "a sustained crackdown by the Bermuda Police Service" on drug dealing and weapons.
— A 'Clergy Against Crime' group chaired by a young member of the clergy. The panel of clergymen and women will be tasked with finding "innovative ways to stem the tide of anti-social behaviour".
— Exploration into the feasibility of a weapons amnesty.
"We don't want to provide an amnesty to the perpetrators of past crimes, but we do want to take weapons off the street that may be used in future crimes," said the Premier.
— Intervention by teachers in cases of "troubled students", plus facilities for "psychological and psychiatric care".
— Stricter standards in uniform and appearance in schools. "When administrators are heavy-handed in this regard, they will have the full support of the Government because we believe enforcement of these rules reduce anti-social behaviour and heighten respect for law and order," said Dr. Brown.
Long-term goals include:
— An external review of the Department of Child and Family Services, to better equip its programmes.
— The transformation of one of Bermuda's outlying islands into "a designated site for a year-round MIRRORS programme", aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour.
* What do you think of Government's 'roadmap' in tackling youth violence? E-mail: news@royalgazette.bm.
