Crime is the biggest fear among Bermuda's residents and Police anticipate that the bite of the economic downturn will result in even more of it.

A Research.bm survey commissioned by The Royal Gazette has revealed crime to be the number one concern for the people of Bermuda. A total of 34 percent of 400 people polled by phone over the period October 7 to 13 listed crime as their biggest fear beating worries over seven other issues, including the economy.

The over-65s are particularly frightened, with 41 percent listing crime as their biggest worry.

Quizzed about the topic as he revealed crime statistics for the third quarter of the year yesterday, Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Wright said: "There are some areas, particularly in crimes against the person, residential burglaries, fatal traffic collisions these are all areas that are still much too high.

"It's incumbent upon us to remain vigilant particularly as we enter into a protracted economic downturn which statistically usually correlates to increasing crime."

The third quarter statistics cover the period July to September this year. They show that crime as a whole has increased by less than one percent compared to the same period last year that's 13 more offences.

However, crimes against people are up 21 percent compared to this time last year. The category includes serious offences such as murder, manslaughter and serious assaults. It also includes less serious assaults. Mr. Wright stressed that although the crime level for the category is "higher than we would like", serious assaults as a sub-category have actually gone down 28 percent.

Crimes against property which includes burglary, criminal damage and theft is down just over four percent on this time last year.

Mr. Wright said: "We are concerned about elevated levels of residential burglaries. This is too high at 229 offences. However, non-residential and tourist accommodation burglaries are at their lowest levels in comparison to previous years."

Crimes against the community, which covers areas including firearms and other weapons, antisocial behaviour and disorder, has gone down just over 16 percent. Traffic collisions are also down almost five percent.

Asked why he thought the number of people listing crime as their number one fear has gone up to 34 percent from 22 percent in May, according to Research. bm figures, Mr. Wright said: "Hardly a day goes by that court reporters and the printed media are not reporting on violent criminals appearing in the criminal justice system. We're arresting people at a very significant rate, there's a lot of Police activity out there, I think our visibility has improved tremendously and the number of arrests and convictions is a by-product of that more proactive policing. That's bound to raise the consciousness in the community and I don't think any of us can be complacent."

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mike Jackman pointed to the shooting of Richard Gaglio on September 6 as something that may have played heavily on people's minds when the survey was conducted. The 62-year-old was shot in the chest and left for dead by robbers who burst into his home in a bid to steal the takings from a poker night he'd hosted. He's made a miraculous recovery, but no one has been caught and Mr. Gaglio told this newspaper he does not believe they ever will be.

Mr. Jackman said of this: "What we recognise is that when there's one very serious incident, that has a profound impact on fear of crime and during the third quarter we did have a very profound incident and that was quite often splashed over the media."

The attack on Mr. Gaglio was one of 46 recorded firearms incidents so far in 2009. A total of 18 of these were confirmed by investigators. Nine arrests were made for firearms over the July – September period. However, that didn't stop such offences increasing by eight percent in firearms offences 16 offences in real terms.

Mr. Wright also revealed that there have been been 54 percent more arrests over the past three months than there were over the same period last year. He attributed this to new powers given to officers recently under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the Criminal Code, giving them more scope to stop and search people and to make arrests.

Mr. Wright also remarked on the fact that Police have been targeting a group of around 100 criminals who are responsible for 15 percent of all crime. Of the top ten criminals, he said five are currently behind bars. Of the top 30, 13 are currently behind bars.

l For full statistics and the Police Service explanation of them go to: www.bps.bm