acquired.

23. Internal training be conducted in all departments of the service upon an ongoing basis.

24. Regular exercises -- simulating conditions likely to be encountered in practice be conducted upon an on-going basis in all departments of the service.

25. Pocket sized operational manuals be prepared for each department and issued to officers who operate on the ground.

26. All operational manuals be regularly updated at least once per year.

27. All reports of domestic violence be treated and dealt with as reports of criminal offences.

28. A victim support scheme be established as a matter of priority.

29. A cadre of female officers be selected and trained to give special care to female victims of violent crime, and particularly of sexual offences.

30. Selected and trained Police Officers co-operate and liaise with law officers and other public and private agencies in giving care to victims of violent crime and their families.

31. The reasonable wishes of the victims of sexual offences be sought and respected.

32. That female victims of sexual offences be examined by a medical practitioner of the same sex whenever possible.

33. The ACPO or other suitable Rape Investigation Manual be acquired together with approved `rape kits'.

34. Carefully selected female officers be specially trained in the use of `rape kits' and the processing of victims of sexual offences.

35. The Commissioner of Police issue instructions that all approaches to his officers by Defence Counsel concerning the disposition of cases of serious offences be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

36. The existing books of record at Police Stations be replaced with modern standardised custody sheets.

37. Protocols be established for the timely release of information to the media and for the conduct of relations with media personnel.

38. The topmost leadership of the service be more directly involved in the management of investigations of serious offences.

39. No system of rotating acting appointments be again introduced without careful study and planning and unless thought to be absolutely necessary. In such a case, the scheme should be carefully explained to all concerned beforehand and the fullest cooperation encouraged.

40. The long discussed CID review be conducted with all convenient speed and its conclusions implemented.

41. A comprehensive review of all unimplemented recommendations in previous reports be undertaken. Those which have been accepted should be implemented with all convenient speed.

42. Budgetary allocations be sought to cover the cost of implementing all accepted recommendations and for unforeseen contingencies.

*** WORKING NOTES 1. There is a need for a cultural change in the Bermuda Police Service. An urgent need for the passwords to be loyalty, hard work, professionalism and a duty of care.

2. There appears to be many reports, statements of intent and previous Commission reports but looking across the majority of these there appears to be a reluctance to take action. There is a need to `walk the talk'.

3. There seems to be a reluctance to accept that the Bermuda Police Service needs to give a better service to victims.

4. It follows therefore, that there is a need to develop a victim support scheme to be invoked in all cases of serious crime. This we will suggest as a strong recommendation. This identifies further need for training which we will draw attention to on many occasions.

5. There is constant reference to things in the past and we think it is necessary for the Service here in Bermuda to move forward. These matters must be put behind them and there must be positive address of things that need to be done for the betterment of the people of Bermuda.

6. An urgent address to the issues previously identified in the Grundy, Tumim, and Gale inspection reports. These have identified some essential operational requirements which, when looked at today, have yet to be actioned.

7. There is almost a state of joking within the ranks in relation to the acting rank particularly that of those in senior command positions. It appears that the only substantive Chief Officer is that of the Commissioner Mr. Lemay and there then follows a whole series of acting positions filled by people who often only remain in office for a short number of months not taking on the responsibility of things that they may have introduced for the good or for the bad.

8. The difficulties with the chain of command outlined in 7 is without a doubt leading to a deterioration in a disciplined service. This is being noticed on more than one occasion by Commissioners and is alluded to by many of the persons we speak to both within and without the Police Service.

9. The Commissioners have spent considerable time interviewing and speaking with members of the criminal investigation department and in addition to what has been said in previous Commission reports the ground swell of opinion from operational detectives there is an urgent and long overdue requirement for a review of the C.I.D. We have experienced much enthusiasm from the Detectives we have spoken with but almost to an Officer it appears that they are frustrated in the manner by which they are governed and they see no direct chain of command to the Chief Officers in the force.

10. During most of the days, the Commission has been taking evidence there has been reference to the difficulties Officers are faced with when handling suspects and prisoners. This calls for a very simple understanding of what is expected when a prisoner/suspect is taken to a Police station within Bermuda.

It is quite apparent that the protocols and conditions set out in the Pace Legislation which has been introduced to all UK forces for many, many years now would perhaps when refined meet the requirements of the Bermuda Police Service. These difficulties are recognised by management but it appears it is expected of Officers to do the best they can to defeat the shortcomings in Legislation. This must be remedied in the shortest period of time possible.

The conditions whereby a person is brought to a Police station and his or her bail is addressed leaves a lot to be desired. It must clearly be understood both by senior and junior Officers alike that an individual has a right to bail and only in given and exceptional circumstances will this not be considered in a positive way.

11. The frustrations appear to follow once a prisoner is being handled in the Police station and custody suite. It appears that bail is yet again used in many instance to facilitate other matters i.e. Statement of Admission and the implication of oneself or associates.

12. Fingerprinting does appear to be at the whim of the Officer involved in the case or perhaps those responsible in the custody suite. There is the ability for fingerprints to be taken of a person charged in Bermuda but only on a voluntary basis. Over a recent two week period of survey, of 194 prisoners only 4 had been fingerprinted. It appears from our inquiries at the Police stations that this is sometimes treated as a matter of no concern and there is little or no understanding as to the benefits to be derived from persons fingerprints being on a database held centrally.

13. There is without doubt an undermining of discipline whilst the current situation continues of acting in senior ranks and their movement on short-term basis, it has become known as the Hollywood syndrome. Throughout our visits and speaking with operational Officers they often do not know where the chain of command lies at any given time. This cannot be of value for the good management and leadership of a force into the future. It is anticipated however, that a person will be nominated to the position of Commissioner Designate to take up substantive office in April of next year when Commissioner Lemay departs.

14. This is to be applauded and it is hoped that the positions below that of Commissioner will also be identified and the force will then settle down to a period of stability. If the appointment is made from serving Officers in the Bermuda Police Service, it would be a recommendation that this person is supported in a positive way by an individual with a great deal of expertise in policing matters who from the shadows can be offering some sound advice which may not be available to the Commissioner from the present serving Officers.

Crime scene: Jurors in the trial of Justis Smith seen at the murder scene of Rebecca Middleton at Ferry Reach. The Commissioners strongly recommended that (1) Up-to-date protocols be established for securing and protecting a crime scene. (2) Up-to-date protocols be established for the avoidance of contamination of a crime scene and (3) Up-to-date protocols be established for the avoidance or destruction of vital evidence at a crime scene.

MURDER MUR CRIME CRM