January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Our fight against gangs
FRIDAY, FEB. 10: What is often misunderstood about Operation Ceasefire (OC) is that it is not an ‘off the shelf’ product that can be implemented overnight, or in a week, or even in several months.
In Boston, where OC had its’ genesis, it took more than two years just to do the research to drive its’ implementation.
It was 1990 when the Boston authorities determined that ‘enough was enough’ and that juvenile and gang related gun deaths had peaked. OC was implemented some six years later. Yes, six years later. That was the Boston experience: it is not ours. So, what is OC?
OC is the law enforcement component of a crime reduction strategy. That’s right, it’s the law enforcement initiative. OC is designed to be effective within a framework of an overall crime reduction strategy. During the past two years, Government has implemented many initiatives within that crime reduction strategy. More about that later.
The law enforcement initiatives consist of, firstly, OC. This is where gang members are put on immediate notice that further violence will not be tolerated and Police resources will be used to maximum search, seizure and arrest effect.
Second, a targeted effort to identify, link and seize guns — the Boston Gun project. Thirdly, Operation Nightlight. This is where Police and Probation officers do random checks on parolees and those on bail.
That’s just the law enforcement side. On the intervention and prevention side, there are 24 hour a day professional gang outreach services, a Youth Services Network, an Alternative to Incarceration Network and a Safe Neighbourhoods initiative.
Time and space don’t permit a full explanation of each, but I’m sure you get the picture: the police, government, non-government agencies, businesses, religious leaders, parents and resident stakeholders all have a vital role to play.
While some elements of the prevention and intervention tactics are in place, there is more co-ordination and expansion of services required.
In the implementation of the island’s crime reduction strategy, what has the Government and the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) done?
• More than two years ago the BPS announced a new Policing Plan. Very targeted, anti-gang enforcement tactics were announced and have been carried out since. Government was consulted and supported that plan.
• The targeting of Prolific Priority Offenders (PPO’s), which include gang members and leaders, was announced as a key element of the Plan.
The success of a Bermuda OC, requires that Plan, the targeting of PPO’s, the community policing ethos and an effective multi-agency task force. Government hasn’t stood still on this. The Inter-Agency Gang Task Force (IAGTF) was formed, has met many times and been carrying out their mandate.
Every one of these initiatives is in the public domain. Either the Minister or the Commissioner of Police announced them and they have been in action for a considerable period now.
So, the calls by some, for ‘a plan’ are somewhat puzzling. Government has enacted many components of a crime reduction strategy — and has told Bermuda what it has done and why! In building that crime reduction strategy, Government has:
• Passed the Firearms Amendment Act , the Bail Amendment Act, the Private Investigators & Security Guards Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Amendment Act, the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act, the Electronic Communications Act and the Justice Protection Act
• In the 2011 Speech from the Throne, proposed further amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act, revisions to the IAGTF, and amendments to the drug sentencing framework
• Created the Inter Agency Gang Task Force (IAGTF);
• Implemented our own ‘Operation Nightlight’ ;
• Funded additional specialist investigators for the BPS;
• Endorsed the BPS Policing Plan to aggressively target gang activity;
• Funded the HMIC Inspection Report of the BPS with specific emphasis on the BPS’s investigative and operational approach to gun and gang crime. The Report is due out shortly.
But, the work didn’t stop there. The Government established important and vital components of a broad crime reduction strategy. It has:
• Launched the Mirrors Programme
• Launched the Youth Empowerment Scheme
• Established the Youth Apprenticeship Scheme
• Established the High Risk Adolescent Intervention Team
• Established the Youth Police Initiative
• Established the Youth Leadership Academy in a ‘high crime’ area
• Implementation of other Mincy Report recommendations is underway
In addition, the Minister of National Security has publicly expressed his commitment to other vital components of the crime reduction strategy including:
• Mediation at gang level;
• Further rollout of prevention and intervention tactics through 2011;
• Proposals for additional sentencing tariffs for offences committed in connection with gang activity;
• Seeking additional funding and private sector support for the crime reduction strategy.
To be clear, there is more work to be done. Among the most challenging components of the crime reduction strategy will be the further aligning of various Government and non-Government organizations on the intervention, prevention and youth services.
This takes leadership and this takes a commitment, not just from government and the police, but from key service providers and intervention workers within Bermuda.
The PLP Government’s initiatives have been announced, legislated, and implemented. No-one should misconstrue that comment and interpret it as “we are finished with the work.” The work is not finished and the Government remains committed to continue the necessary work to reduce gang-related crime.
For the crime reduction strategy to be effective, the law enforcement priorities need to be aligned with the Government’s priorities. That’s why the BPS and Government consulted on the Policing Plan. The crime reduction strategy coupled with enforcement work over the past twelve months has produced these results:
• 18 new Neighbourhood Watches established in 2011;
• Over $50 million dollars worth of drugs seized in 2011;
• High Risk Adolescent Intervention Team is in place;
• 75 per cent conviction rate for gun crime since 2009;
• At least 11 defendants on trial or on remand now for firearms related offences;
• Increase in drug seizures;
• Increase in arrests;
• Stop and Search figures at all time highs;
• Overall crime rates are at the near lowest point in 10 years;
• 11 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition recovered during 2011;
• Fatalities and injuries from firearms in 2011 were reduced by approximately 45 per cent from 2010.
To be sure, those that oppose the PLP Government will be sure to find holes in this and continue to believe that there is “no plan” and that “nothing is being done” and that the “Government is soft on crime.”
Many others will read this and find the evidence of a crime reduction strategy, planning, problem solving, consultation, implementation and results.
The work is far from done though; the practitioners in the field know this, the community knows it and so does the Government.
From the Government’s perspective, we will be relentless in pursuing the ultimate goal of eliminating gang crime and the resultant deaths.
Jonathan Smith, a former Commissioner of Police, is the PLP’s Parliamentary candidate in Constituency 28, Warwick West.
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