A different approach to law enforcement is on the table as policymakers look for ways to address violence
What inconveniences are you prepared to put up with?
Inside the Dalton E. Tucker Primary School auditorium in Southampton, where community members gathered Monday night to discuss solutions to gun and gang violence, some attendees expressed that police may need to start “inconveniencing” people for the greater public good.
Marc Anderson told panellists, “When you go the neighbourhood shut it down. People know what goes on in the neighbourhoods – inconvenience people. Don’t worry what Bermudians have to say. You’ve got to do what you got to do in order to solve crime.”
Kenny Simmons, the owner of Legends Bar in Somerset added: “At the end of the day, we have to put something in place and if it infringes on people’s human rights being impeded on then we’re going to have to do that. This aint no game.”
Governor Andrew Murdoch picked up on the sentiment in the room, noting both philosophical and practical questions surrounding such an approach.
He explained: “In a society, there’s always a balance to be struck between things like freedom of movement, privacy rights, efficiency in moving through airports.
“The fact that you feel a presence of a police officer and authority figures in your communities in the sense of the state interfering with the ability to go about your normal business is a spectrum. So, at one end you can have all complete freedom to say what you want, move what you want, and do anything but there is often then people can exploit it. So, in this kind of discussion, it’s actually really interesting to feel what people, you know, innocent law-abiding citizens are prepared to put up with for the benefits of wider society.”
The conversation formed part of the last in a series of town hall meetings called to address gun and gang violence.
In response to this year’s uptick in violent crime, police launched Operation Sentinel, aimed at disrupting activity in areas where authorities know gang nominals are present, using powers such as Section 315F stop-and-search and targeted traffic enforcement.
Police Commissioner Darrin Simons said that since the operation began, police have made around 120 arrests, executed about 15 warrants, and recovered four firearms along with roughly 15 rounds of ammunition.
But are ordinary residents willing to accept even further measures in their daily lives?
National Security Minister Michael Weeks told attendees that a shift in law enforcement is coming.
“Government is looking at various legislation to take a look at, to update laws, whatnot,” he said. “So, we will be seeing a different approach to law enforcement as we go forward. We have to be careful what we ask for because when we make these changes there are going to be some inconveniences out there.”
WATCH the full broadcast of last night’s town hall meeting below.
