On Tuesday, November 8th 2016 following a meeting with Mr. David Sabir of the Bermuda Football Association, Acting Deputy Commissioner Martin Weekes wrote the below copied letter to Mr. Sabir, for distribution to the various football clubs.

Dear Mr. Sabir

I write to you formally to consolidate the messages that have been delivered in recent weeks by a number of our officers including Assistant Commissioner of Police Daniels, Superintendent Howard, Inspector Devine and Sergeant Raynor on the topic of team members who have been identified as being involved in gangs and/or criminal activity.

It has been the Bermuda Police Service’s position for some time that the dangers caused to the public and to the footballing community by the practice of Teams fielding persons that are identified as being actively involved in gang and criminal activities, outweigh any benefits that their skill on the field can bring to Bermuda Football. It is time for Teams and Clubs particularly to recognise the liability issues surrounding the continued practice of travelling to “away” games with gang members on their teams when violence, which could otherwise have been avoided, ensues during or after games.

To this end, and with a view to setting standards at our own Club premises, the Bermuda Police Service wishes to inform you that, going forward, we will operate a “zero tolerance” attitude to persons we have identified as persons involved in gang and criminal activity, utilising the Police Field. Officers will be in attendance at games played at Police Field going forward and will work with Club Officials to identify these persons and to inform them that they are not welcome to play at the Police Field. I wish to make it clear that the Bermuda Police Service is not targeting any Club or Team in particular and will apply this policy to all Teams and indeed all sports currently played at Police Field, with a view to making sure that the Police Club is a safe place for families to come and watch football and a place that Police Club members and their families can enjoy at the weekends.

Additionally, in furtherance of our aim of ensuring that Police Field is a family friendly environment and due to complaints from Police Club members and their families using the club of open drug use by spectators at BFA fixtures, we will also be enforcing a zero tolerance policy towards the use of illegal narcotics within the Police Headquarters complex. Police Officers will be on hand to enforce this policy during this weekend’s game.

Unfortunately in the event that we continue to experience complaints from our members on not being able to utilise the club due to the behaviour of spectators at football games or if it is found that our aim of recreating the family friendly environment at Police Field is not compatible with the continued use by the BFA, then we will be forced to rescind our permission for the BFA to schedule fixtures at Police Field.