The Commissioner of Police has condemned a party in a public park later broken up by police as “selfish and shameful”.

Steven Corbishley said in Facebook post: “Let's make it clear. The Bermuda Police Service are not killjoys.

“Our role is to ensure people are safe, but it is also to enforce the Covid-19 regulations which are recommended by the Ministry of Health and then set in law.”

He was speaking after police acted in the wake of reports of a party that involved more than 100 people at the Horticultural Hall in Paget’s Botanical Gardens last Friday night.

Mr Corbishley said: “Bermuda has committed so much as 'one big and diverse community' to be where we are, with thankfully few lost lives and day to day life which is the envy of many elsewhere in the world.”

He added that the behaviour of some “who care little for the rest of us working together to protect the health of all, especially those senior and with health conditions, is quite simply selfish and shameful”.

Mr Corbishley said: “That, alongside a double figure breach in curfews too.

“Apart from causing health risks to others it takes us backwards and we all will suffer not least our business community.”

He added police would do their best to make sure that those responsible for the event were prosecuted and that he hoped the public would “make a really big fuss” to persuade others to follow the rules.

A police spokesman said at the weekend that officers responded to a celebration at the Horticultural Hall about 11pm.

The maximum size for a gathering is pegged at 25 under the coronavirus regulations.

The spokesman said that those at the party were not wearing masks or social distancing.

He added: “The organiser of the event could not be located among the crowd and no one was willing to assist police with their inquiries.

“However, the details of several vehicles which began leaving the scene as police arrived were recorded.”