Key players in the fight against gun and gang violence in Bermuda are to engage with the public at an upcoming town hall meeting.

The event at St Paul AME Church in Hamilton on Monday will be led by Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, with Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security and Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons.

Mr Simons told The Royal Gazette: “This is a very important issue and the Bermuda Police Service welcomes the opportunity to hear directly from the community. The town hall gives residents a forum to share their experiences and concerns.

“It will allow us to set out the steps being taken alongside our partner agencies to address gun and violent crime.

“What we hope to achieve is better communication and increased confidence.

“Feedback from the community helps shape our response, while our presence provides reassurance and clarity about what is being done.

“Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen trust and embolden the community to share more information with us so that together we are working towards making Bermuda safer.”

There will be a question-and-answer session following presentations about ongoing and planned measures to combat gun and gang violence in Bermuda, giving members of the public an opportunity to share their concerns, ask questions and contribute to the discussion on “this issue of national importance”.

The BPS encouraged all residents to attend.

The town hall comes at a time of heightened police activity in the wake of recent violent crimes, including the fatal shooting of Janae Minors at her store on Dundonald Street by the junction with Court Street on September 16.

She was killed just over a month after the double murder of Natrae Eversley and Nakai Robinson in a shooting on August 12 that left a third person injured.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Martin Weeks told the Gazette in a recent interview that the BPS has ramped up stop-and-search efforts while Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, revealed that specialist officers will be drafted in from overseas as a temporary measure to assist while permanent officer recruitment efforts are under way.

The town hall forum takes place in the church’s Centennial Hall on Court Street from 6pm to 8pm.