Renewed Advisory Regarding Inappropriate Online Behaviour
Wed, 2023-01-18
Local residents, especially parents, guardians and school aged children, are reminded to be vigilant regarding inappropriate online behaviour by unknown individuals who aim to obtain nude personal images on social media, through seemingly friendly conversation or outright coercion.
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) urges parents and guardians to:-
Familiarise yourself with the applications (apps) downloaded on your school aged child’s/children’s device(s), and scrutinise whether or not they should have access to any of those apps.
Be mindful that the legal age for most social media applications is 13+.
Ensure all social media applications used are adequately secured (i.e. Two-Factor Authentication).
Establish rules with your school aged child/children, such as not allowing others to use their device(s), or have access to their social media account(s).
Talk to your school aged child/children about the risks involved in communicating with any social media profile operated by a person they do not know.
Use a social media application’s settings to report and block any social media profile that attempts to engage in inappropriate behaviour or makes threats.
Make it clear that under no circumstances should a child capture or send nude images of themselves to anyone online.
Reassure your school aged child/children that they can confide in a trusted adult if anything occurs on social media that makes them feel uncomfortable.
>It should be noted that the BPS continues to investigate the recent social media circulation of a number of inappropriate altered images of local residents, including minors.
Anyone with information that may pertain to the ongoing investigation is once again asked to call Acting Detective Inspector 709 Sharnita Tankard or Acting Detective Sergeant 2456 Ashun Wolffe on 247-1739, or e-mail stankard@bps.bm or awolffe@bps.bm.
You may also call the non-emergency reporting number 211, the main police number 295-0011 or, share the information with a police officer you know.
Read MoreFour Separate Dog Biting Incidents Reported Friday, 13th January 2023
Mon, 2023-01-16
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) responded to four separate dog biting incidents that occurred on Friday, 13th January 2023. Dog owners are reminded of their responsibilities under the Dogs Amendment Act 2018. A person found guilty in court of an offence under the Act, in the first instance, is liable to a maximum six months’ imprisonment, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
The Animal Wardens are conducting follow up inquiries regarding all four matters, which are outlined below.
Two Dogs Seized by Animal Warden
Around 12 noon Friday, police officers and an Animal Warden attended a Summit View Drive, Hamilton parish residence. Two dogs, said to be pit-bulls, were seized by the Animal Warden after reportedly biting a female senior citizen.
76-Year-Old Woman Treated & Discharged from Hospital
Around 12:30pm Friday, police officers responded to the Luke’s Pond Road, Southampton area after a 76-year-old Sandys parish woman was bitten by a dog.
The senior citizen received treatment at King Edward VI Memorial Hospital for her injuries and was later discharged. The dog responsible was not located. The matter has been referred to the Animal Wardens for follow up.
10-Year-Old Girl Treated & Discharged from Hospital
Around 3:55pm Friday, police officers responded to the Middletown Lane, Pembroke area after a 10-year-old Pembroke girl was bitten by a dog. The girl received treatment at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for her injuries and was later discharged. The dog said to be responsible was later located and seized by an Animal Warden.
Labrador Seriously Hurt by Another Dog
Around 6:30pm Friday, police officers responded to the Happy Valley Road, Elizabeth Hills Road Pembroke area after a report of a dog attacking another dog.
It appears that a Labrador was being walked by a woman along Happy Valley Road when another dog broke free from where it was kept on Elizabeth Hills Road and attacked the Labrador.
The offending dog was seized by an Animal Warden and the Labrador apparently sustained a serious leg injury. No persons were hurt.
Online Sextortion Scam Advisory
Wed, 2023-01-11
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) continues to advise residents to be vigilant online, particularly when communicating with anyone only known to them through social media.
What is an online sextortion scam?
Online sextortion scams are a form of sexual exploitation where an individual is usually threatened with having personal images or videos of an explicit nature released on the internet, including to all the individual’s social media contacts, unless money is paid.
The compromising images and videos may have been provided willingly during a flirtatious online exchange, or recorded without the individual’s knowledge. A typical blackmailer is likely based overseas and will request payment via any local money service business.
Is sextortion against the law in Bermuda?
Sextortion is an offence, as outlined under the Criminal Code Amendment (Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images) Act 2021.
How common is it?
International statistics indicate that this nefarious activity is common but believed to be underreported, due to the embarrassment those targeted feel, once the real intent of the flirtatious online communication is revealed. This is true locally as well, with less than 10 reports received by the BPS during 2022.
What to do if you’ve been targeted?
The BPS recommends that anyone facing an online sextortion scam block all further communication with the blackmailer. Do not send any money. Secure all social media accounts and keep the content of the messages, which could provide useful evidence.
Report the offending social media profile to the relevant social media company. Any incidents can also be reported to the BPS by calling the Criminal Investigations Department on 247-1744, or the Financial Crime Unit on 247-1757.
Witness Appeal: Information About 6th December 2022 Motorcycle Collision
Mon, 2023-01-09
The Bermuda Police Service, (BPS), is seeking the public’s assistance with information about a collision involving two persons on a motorcycle that occurred on South Road, between Coral Beach and Modern Mart, Paget, between 10:00 p.m. and 10:30p.m on Tuesday, 6th December 2022.
Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may be able to identify the two persons or the motorcycle they were travelling on.
Anyone with information regarding the two subjects and motorbike, are asked to contact the investigating officer, Acting Detective Sergeant Odessa Philip, on 717-2193 or, email ophilip@bps.bm.
You may also call the non-emergency reporting number, 211, the main police number 295-0011 or, Crime Stoppers on 800-8477.
Alternatively, you may wish to provide the information by speaking with a police officer whom you know.
Investigation Underway After Attempted Robbery at Bargain Hunters
Mon, 2023-01-09
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) can confirm an investigation is underway in relation to an attempted robbery which occurred shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31st December 2022, at the Bargain Hunters store on Somerset Road, Sandys.
An unknown male entered the store, brandished an unknown object and demanded the store owner hand over the cash from the cash register.
The proprietor challenged the suspect, who ran out of the store and escaped on foot, in an easterly direction along a nearby nature trail.
The BPS is aware that there are video clips of the incident being circulated on social media.
While we understand that sharing the video images may appear useful in identifying a suspect, we ask that should you receive these images that you do not forward them on.
Detective Inspector Clifford Roberts, Criminal Investigative Unit/Specialist Investigations, explained: “While you may think it helpful, please refrain from posting on social media, images or videos of possible criminal activity around homes or businesses.
Not only can posting these images to social media lead to legal issues should a suspect be arrested and brought to court, but it may also alert a suspect that they are being sought and lead them to dispose of items such as the clothing seen in those images or, other property which could associate them with a specific crime.”
Residents, merchants and their staff are reminded that during a robbery, your personal safety is the top priority. While it may be natural for you to want to protect your property or merchandise, doing so could result in you placing yourself at significant risk of serious injury or, worse.
Instead, we advise that you adopt the following measures in order to avoid harm to yourself or others around you:
Remain calm and do not resist.
Make mental notes of the robber’s appearance.
Notice what the robber does so you can include it in your report.
After the robbery, go immediately to a safe location, then, report the crime.
Anyone with information on this matter is asked to call Detective Constable Malcolm Dill, on 717-2017 or, via email mdill@bps.bm.
You may also call the non-emergency reporting number 211 or, the main police number, 295-0011 or, Crime Stoppers on 800-8477.
No One Hurt in Reported Armed Robbery at Henry's Pantry & Liquor Store
Sat, 2023-01-07
Shortly before 6:15pm on Saturday 7th of January 2023, Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at Henry’s Pantry and Liquor Store, South Shore Road, Southampton.
Early reports suggest that two men, one armed with a knife, entered the store and made demands for money.
A store employee handed over an unknown sum of cash to the assailants, who then left the store riding a motorcycle in an easterly direction along South Road.
Suspects are described as two dark skinned males.
One, approximately 5’ 6” tall, the other, approximately 6’ tall, both, medium built wearing dark clothing and shoes. Both suspects also wore gloves and black helmets.
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area between 5:45pm and 6:15pm, is urged to contact police on 211 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number on 800-8477.
Inquiries Underway After Circulation of Recorded Altercation
Wed, 2023-01-04
The Bermuda Police Service, (BPS), is aware of video clips depicting an altercation involving individuals in traditional Bermuda Gombey costume, being circulated on social media.
The matter is being looked into.
We ask that anyone with information on these incidents please call 211 or, the main police number 295-0011.
The BPS urges that should you receive the images, delete them from your device and do not share them on.
Operation Vega Update: 5th December 2022 - 3rd January 2023
Tue, 2023-01-03
In this reporting period, Monday, December 5th, 2022 to Tuesday January 3rd, 2023, six hundred and thirty-five moving violation tickets (MVTs), were issued for traffic offences, up from four hundred and twenty-eight in the previous reporting period. In addition, during this reporting period sixty-six motorist advisory notices (MANs) were issued up from forty-eight in the previous reporting period.
269 Parking violation tickets were issued up from 171 in the previous reporting period. 8402 MVT’s have been reported since the implementation of Operation Vega on July 1st, 2021.
Robert Cardwell, Acting Superintendent, Tactical Support Division stated: “Operation Vega remains a critical incident and is in line with the Bermuda Police Service’s Strategic Priorities as they relate to reducing harm on our roads. Worryingly, the incidence of impaired driving continues to increase. A situation that should be extreme concern for us all. There 15 arrests for impaired driving over this Operation Vega reporting period, while for all of 2022, a total of 194 individuals were arrested for driving whilst impaired. This compares with 134 in 2021 and 186 in 2020.
Road side sobriety testing and high vigilance by patrol officers have contributed to these numbers and it appears the public are not taking notice of our pleas to not drink and drive. We continue to attend a number of collisions where impaired driving is a factor. That notwithstanding indications are overall traffic collisions are on the decline. However, there remains much work to be done to further reduce these numbers.”
In the fourth quarter of 2022 there were 265 road traffic collisions (RTCs) recorded. For the same period in 2021, there were 284 RTCs recorded. A reduction of 19 such incidents.
The break-down of traffic offences reported for the latest reporting period is as follows:
Impaired Driving Arrests 15 (+3)
Speeding 295 (+91) Excessive speeds ranged from 57kph to 94kph.
Traffic Sign 45 (+16)
Unlicensed Vehicle 79 (+22)
No third party insurance 75 (+25)
No Driver’s license 60 (+24)
Manner of driving 20 (+16)
Disqualified 14 (+11)
Seatbelt 5 (+3)
Helmet 2 (+2)
Handheld device 2 (-1)
Defective vehicle 9 (+7)
Fail to give name/address 0 (0)
Fail to Stop 8 (+6)
Fraud Docs 0 (-1)
Making False Statement 1 (+1)
License Plate offence 8 (-6)
Tint Offence 10 (+3)
Youth License Offence 0 (-2)
Motorcyclist Injured in Crash Found to be in Possession of Knife
Sun, 2023-01-01
Around 4:53pm on Sunday 1st January 2023, police were conducting laser checks in the area of Middle Road near Store Lane, Sandys, when a male riding a motorcycle traveling west, was clocked at a high rate of speed.
On seeing police the subject turned his motorcycle around, began traveling at speed through Overplus Lane and continued in an easterly direction along the railway trail. Police engaged emergency equipment and a pursuit ensued.
The male failed to stop for police, exiting the railway trail at Tribe Road #5 before continuing east along Middle Road. As he approached Barnes Corner, Southampton, the rider lost control of his motorcycle and struck a wall in the opposite lane, before landing in near by bushes.
Officers immediately rendered first aid to the male who sustained a leg injury in the crash.
While being attended to for his injuries, he was found to be in possession of a large knife.
He was subsequently transported by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for further treatment.
No police vehicles were involved in the collision.
Traffic diversions have been put in place at South Road, Middle Road junction and Church Bay Road, while the scene is forensically processed.
Motorists are advised to use South Road until the scene has been cleared.
Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact Sgt Sean Hassell on 211 or shassell@bps.bm.
11th Road Fatality of 2022
Fri, 2022-12-30
Sadly, Bermuda has recorded it’s 11th road fatality for the year with the passing of the 78-year-old male pedestrian who sustained serious head injuries in a collision with a truck on Pitt’s Bay Road, near the junction with Mills Creek Road, Pembroke.
The collision occurred shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29th. It appears the male truck driver was negotiating a right hand turn onto Mills Creek Road. At the time, and the victim was attempting to cross the junction, when the accident occurred.
Anyone who may have witnessed this collision, in particular, the driver of a white Suzuki Ignis and the driver of a delivery truck that was at the scene, is asked to contact Constable Jason Ming of the Roads Policing Unit, on 247-1788 or jming@bps.bm.
The Bermuda Police Service wishes to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
