Police Commissioner says the contribution will bring in crime investigators and analysts, possibly before Christmas
The UK government has committed funding that will help the Bermuda Police Service boost its manpower.
At the third and final town hall meeting on gun and gang violence last night, officials acknowledged that the service is currently operating below its optimal staffing levels.
Since the formation of the Governor’s Council – established to explore ways to reduce violent crime – Police Commissioner Darrin Simons told attendees that additional support is now confirmed, and may even arrive before Christmas.
“One of the things that we’ve been able to do, arising out of the Governor’s Council … is that we have received some assistance from the UK in the form of a financial contribution to the tune of about £750,000,” said Commissioner Simons. “We plan to use that to bring in about nine individuals to assist us, to help bring our numbers up: four serious crime investigators, three crime analysts, and two financial crime investigators, along with some additional covert equipment.”
Separately, Commissioner Simons said they’re also exploring ‘boots on the ground’ options with overseas partners in the Caribbean.
“I can’t say too much about that right now, it’s still in ongoing discussions but definitely before Christmas we will see many, if not all, of this additional assistance in the form of the serious crime investigators, crime analysts, and financial crime investigators.”
In terms of front-line visibility, Commissioner Simons says more than three dozen officers are expected to join the ranks by the second quarter of next year.
“For me, this is one of the biggest issues facing the Bermuda Police Service – it’s just sheer numbers. When I joined this organisation, there were 480 police officers. Today, we’re at 378. That’s 100 officers less.”
For context, he explained that when firearms incidents spiked in 2010, the BPS had 456 officers.
“If I had a dollar for every member of the community that said, ‘We don’t see you,’ I’d be a very rich individual. And those aren’t feelings – that’s the reality.
“We are simply not as visible as we were going back in the 2000s and beyond. That’s why we’re putting a lot of effort into recruiting. We’re constantly recruiting. I would imagine that by the end of the first quarter of 2026, or early in the second quarter, we should be up around 420 officers, which is going to make a significant difference in terms of our visibility.”
WATCH the full broadcast of last night’s town hall meeting below.
