The Police Commissioner yesterday pledged to "call out the reserves'' in an attempt to deter further robberies and assaults on locals and visitors.

And he supported Pink Beach hotelier Mr. W.A. (Toppy) Cowen's call for an extension of the neighbourhood watch groups.

Plans are already underway to broaden the parish constable system to include the post offices.

All parish constables would be available there at certain times to meet with residents.

While disturbed at the number of tourists who have been robbed and attacked this year, the Police Service has pledged to work closely with the hotels, social services and the Ministry of Youth and Sport, he said.

"The job market is not what it was but we are liaising more closely with these organisations to find ways to keep people out of trouble, Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards told The Royal Gazette .

But the Commissioner distanced himself from Mr. Cowen's call for more severe penalties if a person is convicted of robbing or assaulting a visitor.

"I can't support such a stance,'' he said. "A crime is a crime, though clearly those which are aimed at tourists are in danger of killing the goose which lays the golden egg.'' Last month ten visitors were the victim of handbag snatchers while three others were robbed after being assaulted.

Mr. Edwards said he had spoken to Mr. Cowen over the phone on Wednesday.

During that conversation he listened to many concerns Mr. Cowen expressed about the potential effects of crime against visitors.

"I had a meeting with all my divisional officers, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department and uniform and we discussed the need to get our personnel out and about, especially to the smaller hotel properties.

"They will be meeting with management at these smaller places to ensure that their workers such as front desk and security staff are up to date as far as crime prevention is concerned.'' Mr. Edwards praised the larger hotels like Southampton Princess and Sonesta for their willingness to work with the Police.

In March, Police crime prevention officer Det. Con. Chris Wilcox met with members of the Bermuda Hotel Association for two hours at the Belmont Hotel.

At that time he addressed managers and security personnel on issues dealing with the legal definitions of crimes such as burglary.

Also at the meeting was assistant director of administration at the Department of Tourism Mrs. Carol Willis.

Although many hotels were happy to comply with suggestions that a "kindly worded note'' encouraging guests to be careful should be placed in all hotel rooms, many others were not.

However, Mrs. Willis said the tourism ministry already had a policy of placing such warnings in hotels and those properties not wishing to use the ministry's warnings had adequate information packages that were given to their guests.

Still, Mr. Edwards said that the attacks this year were "alarming'' and while admitting the Police Service "was stretched,'' he said he has impressed on his senior officers the need to be creative in their management practices.

"The cuts have hurt us,'' he said. "Our resources are pulled every which way. But what it comes down to is that everyone, right down to our constables have to give just a little bit more.'' EDWARDS: Ways to keeping people out of trouble.