Vertical Markets

Bermuda Specials

by Mark Rowe

Hampshire Police officers have been sworn in as Special Constables for the Bermuda Police Service to enable them to investigate serious crimes on board Bermudan-registered vessels in the county’s ports. Pictured is the view from the Spinnaker in Portsmouth.

Sixteen staff from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team – 14 detectives and two police staff investigators – were sworn in to the office of Special Constable by the Commissioner of Bermuda Police Michael DeSilva, at a ceremony also attended by Chief Constable Andy Marsh and Police & Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes.

Representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and cruise operator Carnival UK were also in attendance at the ceremony, at Police Support and Training Headquarters at Netley as Carnival cruise ships are registered in Bermuda and port in Southampton.

The memorandum of understanding between Hampshire and Bermuda is the product of work led by Sergeant Paul Campbell in support of Assistant Chief Constable David Pryde’s police lead of the national Maritime portfolio and sees Hampshire leading the way in facilitating criminal investigations on board visiting vessels. The MoU was also developed working with the Home office, FCO, Government of Bermuda and Government House (Bermuda).

Every year, officers from the force have a need to investigate crimes on board cruise ships coming into to Southampton, some of them very serious and including murder and rape. Many of these vessels are registered in Bermuda; however, in most instances the UK police have no police powers or jurisdiction. This new MoU means that, as Bermudian specials, Hampshire detectives have the power of arrest on board ship.

Sergeant Paul Campbell said: “Given the short period of time that ships are in port, geography dictates that it is difficult for Bermudian police to get here in time, which can cause delays critical to the investigation.

“Whilst such investigations are not overly frequent, it is really important that we have these powers in place in order to perform a proper investigation, and, most importantly, provide an excellent service in supporting victims of crime. This MoU and process is certainly unprecedented in UK policing if not the world, with a number of other UK forces and countries including the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands looking to forge similar agreements. We will assess how this agreement works with Bermuda first and take it from there.

“This MoU required an authorisation by Home Secretary under Section 26 of the Police Act 1996. Generally this authority is required for each specific incident, however this new agreement for a 12 month period allows us to deal with any investigation and eventuality it throws up, enabling us to provide greater continuity of service to all those involved and flexibility.

“It is a massive step forward in driving international collaboration between police forces and supports the Governments commitment to the UK’s overseas territories.”

Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “This is part of ongoing work nationally in respect of improving systems of dealing with serious crime on board ships, led by Hampshire Assistant Chief Constable David Pryde, who is lead UK police lead for maritime. We have already supported the development and creation of guidance by the International Maritime Organisation with regards to safeguarding of evidence, and victim and pastoral care post-incident.

“We have also created policies for the safeguarding of children on UK ships and advised the UK government on response options for incidents of piracy and we continue to work with the Home Office in developing better powers for the police to investigate serious crime on ships.

“I am extremely proud to see Hampshire Constabulary leading the way. I have absolute confidence that if you have to call upon any of the 16 men and women being sworn in today, victims of crime will receive an excellent professional service.”

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes added: “I am delighted to support this initiative that puts Hampshire Constabulary at the forefront of innovative policing. The high standards of professionalism and integrity of policing in the UK is world renowned. The faith of the Bermudan authorities working with Hampshire Constabulary in this way bears testament to that, and I feel certain that this pioneering collaborative work will want to be shared with other overseas territories in the future.”

Michael DeSilva, commissioner of Bermuda Police Service, said: “For us this is about partnering up with a UK force, which allows us to provide a more appropriate and faster response to ships that are registered in Bermuda.

“Through this partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, we can overcome the logistical delays caused by flying in from Bermuda – there are only five flights a week to the UK and so it can often take up to two days to get there. This MoU gives us more options and means that we may not have to deploy every time a crime is reported which requires investigation. Importantly for us, it also gives us a footing as a UK police force. The six Caribbean territories and Bermuda are all British territories, and while we are not a Home Office force, we are part of UK policing and it is very important for us to be part of this.”

Related News

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing