Every gunshot ringing across our island is an alarm bell that we are not doing enough to protect the people of Bermuda, and we are not doing enough to support those who are tasked with keeping our community safe. The murder rate on this island is double that of the US. Quadruple that of Canada. And the blame is not with those tasked to protect our streets and our borders; it is with the Government that has failed to support those very people who form our front line defence.

Every gun that reaches our island, every shipment of illegal drugs that slips through our borders represents a failure in our system – and the price is being paid by Bermudian families, by a loss of sense of public safety, and an erosion of our community.

Our Customs officers, alongside the Bermuda Police Service, form the backbone of Bermuda’s frontline security. When either service is under-resourced or unsupported, the impact is not only a human resource issue – it is one of national importance. These services protect our borders, they intercept guns and illegal drugs, which are fuelling an unprecedented and unacceptable level of violence on our streets. The cost of inadequate border security is tragically measured in lost lives, shattered families, and trauma. And we all feel it, and we all share it, and we are all responsible to stop it.

While national security is not a partisan issue, it is deeply alarming to me that the very officers tasked with monitoring our borders and intercepting illegal imports are being asked to do so without adequate staffing, equipment or support. In addition to the well documented and as yet unaddressed staffing shortage within the Bermuda Police Service, there is new information that staffing shortages are placing sustained and unacceptable pressure on our frontline Customs officers at both the Hamilton docks and LF Wade International Airport. Critical inspection equipment at the docks has also been out of service for an extended period.

Border security depends on supporting our human resources with adequate staffing and training, but also with functioning technology. Because when infrastructure fails, the burden shifts to officers already working longer hours under increasingly difficult conditions ― and the overall threat to our people increases.

There are also public accounts pointing to low morale and leadership challenges within the Customs Department. It is not appropriate to speculate on internal matters or repeat unproven claims, however one principle stands: officer welfare and organisational culture are fundamental to performance, professionalism, and effectiveness. A workforce that feels heard and supported is better equipped to meet the demands of an increasingly complex security environment.

As Shadow Minister for National Security, and someone who formerly worked in the Corrections System alongside officers, I am calling for immediate clarity and action. An operational review of HM Customs must be undertaken, with a clear mandate to address staffing levels, equipment reliability, and officer wellbeing. A clear workforce and leadership strategy is also needed ― one that focuses on recruitment, retention, training, mental health support, and adherence to best practices.

In the coming months, visitor arrivals and cargo volumes will increase significantly. Stabilising operations ahead of the summer months must be the priority. Questions that need answers and responses include: What is the current staffing position within Customs, and how does it compare with operational requirements? What is the status of essential inspection equipment, and when and how will it become fully operational? What contingency plans are in place to manage increased demand during the upcoming tourist season? And, what level of threat are we allowing to bleed into our community by not acting immediately?

Appropriately supporting and protecting the people who protect us ― whether at our borders or on our streets ― in Customs or the Police Service ― is non-negotiable. It is a core responsibility of Government ― one that must be met with urgency, transparency, and respect for those entrusted with keeping our island and our citizens safe.

• Robert King is Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for National Security