A celebration of the island’s police service is to kick off this weekend.

Sergeant Clifford Roberts, who has helped to organise the event for the past ten years, said Police Week was a chance to build a lasting relationship with the public. The week will start with a pedal bike gymkhana on Saturday and end with a special reception hosted by Stephen Corbishley, the Commissioner of Police.

Mr Roberts said: “There’s one family that has been coming to the gymkhana for the last five years or so, a mother that brings her five kids. We’ve been able to watch them grow up, and we look forward to seeing them again every year.”

He added: “For us, it has always been a great thing to see the children out there enjoying themselves. Each year, we on the organising committee come up and say this will be the last year for us, and we will hand over the reins, but then we step away and we think of all these things we can do for the next year and we decide to stick around.”

The gymkhana, to be held at Police Field at the service’s Prospect headquarters, will also feature a range of athletics events. Mr Roberts said: “We put together a list of sports events for children of all ages including cycling activities.

“It’s also a time where we can interact with the children and adults. This year the committee really wanted to encourage the parents to take part.

“There is sometimes a perception of a lack of communication, but we want the parents to come on, ask questions about anything they may have concerns about.

“Its something where the adults and the kids can be in a family environment, a friendly environment, so they feel comfortable talking to police and asking them any questions.”

Mr Roberts said that the event has grown over the years, with between 240 and 260 young people taking part.

Police Week will continue on Sunday with a memorial for officers and former officers who lost their lives while in the service.

The BPS will join forces with Keep Bermuda Beautiful to conduct a community cleanup, picking up litter around Parson’s Road, Duck’s Puddle and Warren Simmons Field, the old Navy field, in Sandys on Monday.

Mr Roberts said: “We’re not going to just stick to those areas. We may see other areas nearby that need a cleanup.”

Police officers will honour the island’s seniors on Tuesday with their annual Senior’s Tea at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Mr Roberts said the tea has become one of the week’s main events. He said: “It starts at 11am, but seniors come out in droves as early as 9am. They make it very enjoyable for us because, in a very polite manner, they let us know what is going on.”

A BPS Staff Fun Day, designed to bring together officers, support staff, police reserves and police cadets for a day of friendly competition, will be held on Thursday week.

The week will end with the Commissioner’s Reception at the Police Recreation Club.

Mr Roberts said: “We have a new commissioner, so this is an opportunity for our family and friends to come out and meet him. He is a very personable officer, but this is a chance for us and our colleagues to come out and ask him questions in a relaxed, informal environment.”

• For more information, including sign-up forms and detailed schedules, visit http://www.bermudapolice.bm/content/police-week-2018