Created: November 10, 2024 07:58

Governor Rena Lalgie discusses the violence reduction strategy and the implementation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act during her reading of the Speech from the Throne (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Measures to respect deadlines for police custody and detention of arrested persons can be expected during the coming year.

Rena Lalgie, the governor, announced in the Speech from the Throne that parts of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2006 would be implemented with delays.

Ms Lalgie also promised the creation of a violence reduction strategy to address the underlying social causes of gang activity and prevent re-offending.

Of the push for Pace, she said: “Unfortunately, 18 years after the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2006 was passed into law, the full nature of the protections provided for those faced with the broad powers of the tracking apparatus is not yet in force.

“Therefore, the other provisions of the Pace, which deal with time limits for police custody and detention of arrested persons, will come into force during this session.”

Pace was designed to set parameters for police on how to collect evidence, identify suspects and conduct interviews.

It was designed to reduce overreach by criminal justice organizations during investigations.

The violence reduction strategy was introduced after Ms Lalgie warned of anti-social behavior continuing to destroy communities.

She said her mission would be to “implement strategies that will reduce violence in Bermuda, particularly gang violence, in collaboration with various agencies, with a focus on prevention, intervention and integration “.

The strategy will offer a guide on how to tackle “unresolved multi-generational trauma” and unite agencies to intervene in growing gang activity.

Attention will also be drawn to reintegrating former gang members into the community to prevent them falling back into old cycles.