Governor acts on sexual misconduct complaints

By Sam Strangeways

Governor George Fergusson has asked that a dedicated police officer be tasked with handling sexual misconduct complaints from soldiers who have served in the Bermuda Regiment.

Mr Fergusson said yesterday afternoon he had asked the Commissioner of Police to appoint a “single point of contact” for complainants, in light of the string of historic allegations uncovered by The Royal Gazette about disgraced former Regiment Major Glenn Brangman.

The Governor said victims of such crimes could face “great difficulties, psychological and social” in reporting their allegations to the authorities and the aim was to make it easier for them to come forward and receive professional support.

The chosen officer, Detective Inspector Mark Clarke, who leads Bermuda Police Service’s Vulnerable Persons Unit, was described by Commissioner Michael DeSilva last night as an “experienced specialist investigator”.

Mr DeSilva said: “Any victim can be assured that they will be treated with dignity and that their investigation will be conducted in strict confidence.”

The Royal Gazette revealed in September 2009 that we had uncovered a series of sexual misconduct claims made by male soldiers between 1989 and 2002 at Warwick Camp.

In total, we discovered that 14 complaints were made and 13 of them were about Brangman, the Regiment’s Quartermaster, who was forced to retire in 2002.

Brangman, 61, of Limehouse Lane, Hamilton Parish, was later given a job running Bermuda Housing Corporation, where he sexually assaulted a male teenage clerk in 2009.

He was found guilty of four counts of sex assault in February last year and was jailed for three years last week after the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions.

Mr Fergusson’s statement said: “Following last week’s confirmation by the Court of Appeal of the conviction for serious sexual offences of Glenn Brangman and the subsequent media reports of a series of allegations relating to his previous period of employment in the Bermuda Regiment up to 2002, I have considered possible further steps.

“I have now asked the Commissioner of Police to nominate a single point of contact for the receipt of confidential complaints with a view to undertaking a future investigation.

“I am aware that thorough investigations have been done in the past by the Regiment authorities.

“I am also, however, aware of the great difficulties, psychological and social, which victims of such crimes may face in bringing their allegations to the attention of the authorities.”

The Governor said the appointment of the dedicated officer would make it easier for complainants and others with information about such crimes to come forward in a way which would “provide for confidentiality and professional support”.

He added: “Calls have been made for a formal, broader inquiry to be set up. I don’t believe that this would be useful at this stage.

“We are dealing with allegations of serious crimes and it is right that they should be investigated with a view to possible prosecution, if the evidence is there.

“A public enquiry would not provide an appropriate path to prosecution and could delay or cut across a criminal investigation.”

Regiment commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Foster-Brown said he agreed with the Governor that in the wake of Brangman’s conviction and the “subsequent detailed allegations” in this newspaper from his past, there was a legitimate concern that the former Major “may also have abused his position of trust while in the Regiment prior to 2002”.

Lt Col Foster-Brown said: “The Regiment works hard to provide a safe working environment and the welfare of our soldiers is of paramount concern.

“Any abuse of this, even though over a decade ago, is thus a particularly heinous crime if proven and I urge anyone with evidence of such criminal activity to report it to the appropriate authorities in order to allow justice to prevail.”

The announcement was welcomed by anticonscription campaigner Larry Marshall, who has called for an inquiry into the controversy since this newspaper revealed the allegations.

He said he was “most encouraged” by the Governor’s actions and urged victims to come forward “as it appears that great lengths will be taken to ensure their past trauma will be taken into consideration”.

Bermudians Against the Draft founder Mr Marshall added: “Having read the statement issued by the Governor, it suggests that this is a first step in a process.

“He has indicated that a formal, broader inquiry would not be useful at this stage as it might hinder prosecution. With that I fully agree.

“However, a distinction must be made between two separate allegations. The first is the allegation that sexual abuse took place.

“The second is the allegation that sexual abuse was covered up by Regiment officers to both protect Brangman and themselves.”

He said a board of inquiry could be effective in probing the second allegation and would hopefully be the next step.

A police spokesman said: “The Commissioner of Police has consulted with His Excellency the Governor regarding recent public speculation about past sexual assaults that may have taken place within the ranks of the Bermuda Regiment.

“The Commissioner has agreed that for a variety of reasons, potential victims might have decided not to assist with previous investigations but might be willing to come forward now.”

He said complainants and anyone else with information should contact Det Insp Clarke on 247-1086 or e-mail mclarke@bps.bm.