Island Crime & Concerns

MURDERS – as of 08/2024 the murder total was reduced by 1 to 7; the BPS seemingly erring when indicting one of 4 people found dead 07/07/2024 had been murdered.   However, as of 27/10/2024, the number returned to 8 following the stabbing of a 17 year old – read more here.

By 17/12/2024, this increased to 9 murders were recorded on the islands – read more about the island’s 2024 murders here.

Nine murders also took place in 2022, five of which were the result of firearms offences. Three people died from bladed articles and one died after an assault (source)

• • The UK’s murder rate is about 1.2 per 100,000 population.  Thus far (July) 2024, Bermuda’s equivalent is about 20x this – 24 per 100,000. Guns, knives & gangs appear to be ravaging the island.  Many of the murders are unsolved – read more here.
  • 11/07/2024 – update – the BPS (inadvertently?) refer to the 4 deaths 07/07/2024  as murders – the press conference transcript can be read here
  • read more about the island’s murders here.

FIREARMS – regular firearms incidents – yet reward derisory? Residents are rightly concerned – read more here.

STABBINGS – knife crime issues – 2024: ‘police have seen 16 incidents of knife crimes this year and that the island could surpass last year’s record of 25 should the trend continue’ (source)

• EVIDENCE – the BPS seemingly have difficulty with evidence …
  • 11/2024 – Hundreds of DNA cases to be reviewed after exoneration in Bermuda. Read more here
  • 10/07/2024 – a man accused of murdering two people at the Robin Hood Pub in October 2021 was freed by the court yesterday due to a lack of sufficient evidence tying him to the killings. Read more here.
  • 30/05/2024 – a judge found, with regard to 3 accused of murder – ‘I concluded that there is no evidence on which you can find beyond a reasonable doubt …’ (30/05/2024 – murder trial)
  • 05/2024 – DNA evidence also appears problematic as highlighted by a miscarriage of justice.  Julian Washington will not be retried for a 2018 murder – an independent review of DNA evidence has been suggested – read more here.

• COLLISIONS – high number of vehicle collisions & road fatalities – 07/2024 – ‘Collisions remain common despite police crackdown‘.  The island is ranked 10th in the top 10 world countries for reported accidents per population – read more here.
  • 2025 road fatalities, not two weeks into the New Year and the island suffers its first loss.
  • 2024 road fatalities – more information
  • 2023 road fatalities number 13 – read more here

• CYCLE RENTAL – the potential damagers associated with cycle hire – read more here.

• NO-GO AREAS –  no-go areas and drug dealing

• SEARCH WARRANTS – the obtaining & use of search warrants
  • the BPS decline to disclose Detective Chief Inspector Arthur Glasford’s internal report about a search warrant – read more here – reiterating their refusal as can be read here.

• POLICE CORRUPTION – the number of BPS officers under investigation – 2021 report ‘Almost half of Bermuda’s police officers have been investigated for alleged wrongdoing in the past three years‘.  In 2020, Police disciplinary decisions were to be reviewed because a UK officer in charge of professional standards is not a BPS member – read more here.
  • 06/2024 – such is the problem, a dedicated “anti-corruption” department is being set up by the Bermuda Police Service – read more here
  • 07/2024 – Seven police officers are suspended from duty while under investigation for allegations of gross misconduct and criminality – read more here.

• OPPRESSIVE CONDUCT – alleged officer intimidation – Charges dropped against police sergeant and wife (04/07/2024)
  • 2021 former Chief of Police, Mr Corbishley’s ‘shock resignation‘ occurred  while he was under investigation for alleged gross misconduct toward a subordinate officer

• POLICE NUMBERS – the size of a constabulary for just 65,000 occupants –  currently about 360 – the lowest since the 1970’s. Whilst this may be considered a sizeable number of police staff for such a small island, the constabulary wants another 100 officers!  It is apparent recognises there is a shortfall, they simply appear to have done little about it.  Read more here

• LACK OF INVESTIGATION – the 1993 dismissal of the “the largest and most serious case involving conspiracy, drug trafficking and money laundering ever conducted by the Bermuda Police force” – arguably undermining the rule of law, paving the way for the subsequent crimes … murders, narcotics, gangs, firearms & knife crimes – above.

• OFFSHORE INVESTMENTS – The Paradise Papers & Bermuda names linked – did the BPS trouble to investigate the evidence/information?