Nearly all of Bermuda has become an increased penalty zone under legislation passed by senators yesterday, one senator observed.

Other senators wondered why increased penalty zones were needed at all, saying that penalties for offences under the Criminal Code should have been increased equally across the board.

Senators passed the Criminal Code Amendment Act (2) yesterday, increasing penalties for violent offenders and increasing the powers of arrest for Police.

The legislation named areas surrounding churches, schools and public sporting grounds as increased penalty zones for violent offences ? effectively increasing the penalties even further in those areas.

Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes calculated that with designated 100 or 300 metres surrounding each spot also included in the increased penalty zone, some 6,000 acres, or more than half the Island, fell under the legislation.

"I would venture a guess that one would have a hard time finding a spot which is not an increased penalty zone," he said.

Though all senators supported the bill, Opposition Sen. Kenneth Bascome questioned the increased penalty zones, saying crime is crime, no matter where it is committed.

Opposition Sen. Bob Richards also questioned the point of the increased penalty zones, saying there was no point in increasing penalties at all if cases are not successfully prosecuted.

Government Senate Leader Larry Mussenden said he was "astounded" at the criticism from the Opposition. When Senate president Alf Oughton pointed out senators were not criticising the zones but simply calling for blanket penalties across the board, Sen. Mussenden conceded that point.

He maintained the importance of increased penalty zones, however, saying they were especially necessary to protect Bermuda's children in areas where they gather on a regular basis.

Sen. Mussenden also pointed out there have been an increased number of trials in the Supreme Court this year thanks to increased efficiency. Amendments to the Criminal Code give Supreme Court justices and magistrates greater sentencing powers and Police greater powers of arrest, as they have spent years calling for, he said.

Sen. Mussenden finished with a passionate plea to parents to do their part. "Lunatics just don't appear out of the blue," he said.

Parents have got to find out what their children are doing, who they are with, and how they are spending their time, he said. "Government can do their part regarding the law, but we expect the community to do their part also."