Bermuda is winning its war on crime as more people are being convicted in the Island’s courts, according to the Governor Sir John Vereker.

Sir John was speaking at the official opening yesterday of the new St. David’s Police station at Southside, which was built at a cost of $2.8 million and opened on time.

The Governor was at the opening with the Minister of Public Safety and Housing Sen. David Burch and the Commissioner of Police Mr. George L. Jackson.

Sir John said: “We are building the Bermuda Police Service back up to its full establishment of 464 officers.

“There are currently 426 officers with 14 recently recruited from overseas, so we are only 34 below and there are 18 local applicants for the next Recruit Foundation Course.

“The crimes of violence last year were slightly lower than the year before and the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has halved the average length of time taken from committal date to trial from over a year to under six months and the virtual backlog of cases has been virtually eliminated.”

The Governor had a warning for criminals adding: “Since the beginning of 2004, 246 people have been convicted in our Supreme Court and 2,676 in our Magistrates’ Court.

“Well over 80 percent of those brought before the courts are convicted.

“Our Police Service is working, our prosecutors are working and our Courts are working.”

To make sure the Police are able to maintain their level of efficiency, the new facility meets the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) of 2005 on the questioning and holding of witnesses and suspects.

It means the new Police station has state of the art facilities such as CCTV cameras throughout, tape recorders and soon video recorders for suspects, and detainee’s cells monitored by cameras.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jackson said at the opening: “This first class office will cover as far west as the Terceira’s gas station and will provide security for the East End.”

According to the Commissioner, the St. George’s station was always planned to close when the Southside station was operational.

“The St. George’s station never could have been updated to be PACE compliant, which is why it will be a hub for Southside.”

Sen. Burch said: “The opening shows a tangible way that the Government supports the Police and we hope to do something similar for the Hamilton office.”

Until the Police station in St. George’s is refurbished, officers from there will be stationed at the new St. David’s building.

Conviction numbers up, says Governor