Assistant Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service urges people not to carry weapons for protection
Police officer conduct checks during the Easter holiday weekend. Photo: Bermuda Police Service/Instagram
Fourteen traffic collisions and twenty-three arrests made over the Easter Holiday weekend, according to the Bermuda Police Service.
Martin Weekes, the Assistant Commissioner of Police urging a word of warning after several of the arrests were made in connection to carrying machetes and sharp objects as weapons.
A total of 23 arrests were made over the longer Easter Holiday weekend for outstanding warrants, impaired driving, possession of bladed articles, controlled drugs and other offenses.
In the wake of a recent increase in knife related crimes, a spokesperson for the Police said a number of stop and search checks were put in place on the motorways as a preventative measure.
Five people were arrested for carrying bladed items including a machete, an axe and an 8inch knife.
Martin Weekes, Assistant Commissioner of Police, stated, “The Bermuda Police Service cannot stress enough, the dangers associated with the carrying of bladed articles.
“In many instances when found with these items, individuals say they are carrying them for protection purposes.
“However, evidence shows that carrying bladed articles such as machetes or knives, actually increases the chances of you being injured.
“Our officers will continue to lawfully stop persons under section 315-F of the criminal code in an effort to prevent persons using these items as weapons whether for protection or for purposes of inflicting harm on others.”
On Good Friday, a man was hospitalised for injuries after a disturbance was reported at Elbow Beach Hotel site around 3.30pm. Another man was taken into police custody and an investigation is now underway.
Elsewhere, there were fourteen reported road traffic collisions with six resulting injury – the worst of those injuries was a person suffering a broken leg.
In the early hours of Good Friday, just before midnight, police reported a serious car collision near the Brighton Hill and South Shore Road junction in Devonshire. The driver may have been traveling east when they lost control while taking a right hand turn striking a nearby curb. The car ended up on its side in a farm plot however, its unclear if anyone was injured after no one showed up at the hospital, following checks by police officers.
Two people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as roadside sobriety checkpoints were active throughout the weekend. Police said one reading recorded was over twice the legal blood-alcohol limit at 136 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood.
The spokesperson said several people arrested were due to appear in Magistrates’ court this morning to face charges and others are expected to appear in due course.
