The increasing use of firearms in Bermuda is a trend which is being dictated to our Island by the US and Jamaica, according to Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Crockwell.

"What we are finding with the trend in the rise of violence in Bermuda is that a lot of the young people committing crimes are basically re-enacting what they see on television," he explained. "The `thug thing' is to have a firearm strapped down by your ankle or on your belt, at your waist. But they don't really know the seriousness of it."

What most people do not know, he explained, is that in Bermuda if you are caught carrying a firearm it does not matter whether it is an imitation or otherwise - you will be prosecuted as though the firearm were a real weapon. "I would say a lot of our methods of crimes being committed in Bermuda have now been taken from methods used overseas in the US and other countries. They are being dictated by the methods used in the US and Jamaica."

Adding that he obviously did not want to blame BET cable network for the rise of guns in Bermuda, Insp. Crockwell maintained the use of firearms is like the change in clothing trends: Bermuda's youth follow the fashions set in the US. However he did not give outside influences all the credit for the rise of guns.

"Guns are appearing and being used as a deterrent because of the increase in violence among `groups'," he said - maintaining the Police view that there are no "gangs" in Bermuda.

Often such groups use guns - like knives - more as a threat, deterrent, or statement of status, he added. "It's just like the knives - if you saw the amount of knives we seize every weekend - the Police Support Unit and other units are seeing imitation firearms in cars, in people's pockets."

People are less likely to cause trouble with people they believe are carrying knives than those unarmed - and even less likely to cause trouble with someone carrying a gun. In fact, the power of guns as a deterrent seems so significant that Insp. Crockwell said he himself has had personal knowledge of groups sharing a gun as a kind of `group gun', explaining: "There may be 20 guns with access to the gun, but there's not 20 guns."

When asked how the weapons arrive on the Island, Insp. Crockwell said "There is no doubt in my mind guns are smuggled through like drugs" - a contention supported by Customs.

Whether or not there is a "gun market" of sorts on the Island, like the drug market with suppliers and dealers etc., Insp. Crockwell said he did not believe so. It was still possible to "rent" a gun, he said, however the idea of a gun supplier "hasn't reached me personally and I'm quite in tune with what happens on the streets. I've never seen that information".

The number of guns Police seize every year is "very small", he said. Recently, however, he admitted: "We have seen a rise in the use of firearms."

Police have a policy guideline in place to deal with the information they receive on guns on the Island. Once that information has been extensively checked and validated, Police call in the Emergency Response Team (ERT) who are "highly, highly trained to deal with any firearms incidents".

Very specific information is needed for any guns to be seized, however. Police also continue to remind members of the public that all firearms - real, imitation, for paintball, whatever - are illegal and those caught with them will be prosecuted as though the weapons were real.

"We can also hammer home that persons who know someone who has a firearm or know where a firearm is being kept have an obligation as positive and honest citizens to report those facts to Police," said Insp. Crockwell.

"If they know, others know. There is nothing stopping anyone from retrieving that firearm, nothing stopping kids from stumbling across it. I personally know there are people out there who know people with firearms but there is a `fright factor' that puts them off Police. I'd urge them to give me a call personally. All information is totally confidential."

Police have also periodically held amnesty periods where by the powers of the Governor and the Police Commissioner it is possible, for a certain period of time, for those in possession of firearms to turn those firearms in to any Police station - and no charges will be laid.

As for any further community education on guns such as pamphlets or education in schools, Insp. Crockwell said Police would continue to work with their "very innovative" media relations department to come up with other tools to get their message across. All gun enquiries are handled by the Serious Crime Unit - consisting of Insp. Crockwell, a sergeant and four detectives - in conjunction with Police armourer Constable Stuart Kirkpatrick and the ERT technical advisers.

Insp. Crockwell can be reached by phoning Central CID on 295-0011. The public can also call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline with information on illegal firearms at 1-800-623-8477.