The authority that is set to expire at 11:59pm on Wednesday 13th June, 2012 has been extended under the authority of Acting Police Superintendent Sean Field-Lament for an additional one month period. This extension notice & map will appear in both the Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun newspapers. The Bermuda Police Service deems it to be both appropriate and proportionate to extend use of this authority in-line with its mission of making Bermuda safer.

Since the Notice was given that police would begin exercising powers to disperse groups in accordance with Section 110 of the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2010 in the areas of Somerset Road and Cambridge Road Sandys parish, these affected areas have experienced a dramatic reduction of men congregating and an increased feeling of safety in the Somerset communities that had been affected.

The men had previously been congregating in numbers and their behavior has been anti-social. In fact, their behavior had caused alarm and distress to the area residents who reported that they have been living in fear and under constant intimidation. However, since the authority to disperse was given, the police have not been caused to give a single warning to any person as a result of the immediate compliance that has been experienced.

Area residents have telephoned Somerset Police Station to give thanks for the relief and at least one business has reported patrons who were staying away from the premises have returned, reporting that they feel more comfortable doing so. These are positive results and Acting Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell thanks the men who would normally congregate in the area for their compliance, as well as the community for their continued support and participation in resolving the problems that caused alarm and distress.

The Bermuda Police Service continues to work in partnership toward solutions that will sustain what has already been achieved with the officers of the Western Area Community Action Team, the Cambridge Road Community Group and other stakeholders in the community.