Bermudians Be On Your Best Behaviour!

Spun Gold Studios are on the islands of Bermuda recording the work of the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) and Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard (RBRC).

The film has apparently been appointed by the BBC – generally known for their professionalism and independent reporting.

It remains to be seen what is produced given they will apparently mostly document “feel-good” stories as the program is ‘designed to show the BPS and the RBRC coastguard in a good light, while encouraging UK citizens to consider visiting the island’.

It also appears odd the Police would need to ‘encourage’ people to make the crew feel welcome as they are here to ‘show Bermuda in a positive light’.

Then there is that the BPS senior leadership team will review all footage before it can be included in the series, and all proposed episodes will be vetted by the BPS before release for broadcast.

Can we look forward to commentary on:

MURDER – increased incidence of murder – and staggering number of unsolved cases … let us not forget the Ms Middleton fiasco.
EVIDENCE – BPS seemingly having difficulty with evidence … A judge finding, 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.
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)
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.
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
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
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 between 450 and 500 sworn officers. This range reflects the total number of active officers employed to police Bermuda’s 21 square miles and serve its population of approximately 62,000 residents (source)
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 … murder, drug, gang firearm & knife crime – above.
OFFSHORE INVESTMENTS – The Paradise Papers & Bermuda names linked – did anyone bother to investigate the evidence/information

Also see:

2024 – ‘To Catch a Copper‘ – TV series – ‘Jaw-dropping documentary series which, like the real Line of Duty, unearths shocking cases of corrupt officers in Avon and Somerset Police’. What a strange world when the police perceive filming them rooting out the bad apples conveys their essential goodness. The Avon and Somerset Police documentary ‘shocks’ force.

BBC & Impartiality