Twelve Detectives from the Crime Division of the Bermuda Police Service, this week (Feb 16-20th) have embarked on critical training around Sexual Assault. The training is hosted by the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) which includes Nurse Examiners, Bermuda Police Service, Department of Child and Family Services and The Center Against Abuse. The course is being facilitated by Kathy Bell MS RN, forensic Nursing Administrator for the Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Oklahoma along with local experts: Nurse Rebeca Madeiros and Gaynell Hayward-Caesar Chief Nursing Officer and Inspector Mark Clarke.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Sean-Field Lament states: Sexual assaults are by their very nature extremely emotive and touch a nerve within our community. The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) is very aware of the importance of addressing these crimes in a timely, sensitive and professional manner. Police ability to effectively investigate sexual assault reports goes to the heart of reinforcing public confidence. We are dedicated to continuing the professionalizing of our investigative processes with this comprehensive sexual assault training. Kathy Bell is a leading expert in this field and has been assisting the BPS for over ten years. We are expanding our capacity and capability in conjunction with doctors and nurses from the medical profession to create a pool of investigators and sexual assault nurses. Crimes of this nature historically have issues with under reporting, hopefully - with the increased levels of public confidence in the Police - we will see an increase in reporting. This training is positioning the BPS and our partners to deal with future cases.

This training provides Bermuda the opportunity to further protect our victims from additional victimization through an educated and professional responses.

Some of the Modules include:

·        Rape Myths and Facts

·        Victim and Family Perspective

·        Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

·        Strangulation and Bites

·        Neurobiology of trauma

·        Critical injured/homicide, patients/unconscious

·        Important post-pubescent Literature

·        Peer review

·        Domestic violence evaluations

·        Evidence and Kit Collection

Detective Inspector Mark Clarke states: The partnership with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, the Police and our community partners has resulted in a quality of care that ensures comfort to our victims and their families. The effectiveness of this partnership strengthens our strategic intent to ensure a safer Bermuda.

The course will conclude Friday afternoon with an exam followed by a certificate of completion presentation.

(In photograph: officers from Bermuda Police Service, Nurses and Doctors from BHB and the Course facilitator).