on tourists and break-ins at tourist accommodations.

Bermuda Hotel Association President Billy Griffith is to organise the meeting with new Commissioner of Police Jonathan Smith.

Last week a visitor was robbed at Astwood Cove, Warwick, and on Sunday morning a guest at Rosemont Avenue Guest Apartments in Pembroke chased an intruder from his room.

Mr. Griffith said he was not yet sure of the scale of the problem, but said it was unacceptable if the Island was being "brought to its knees'' by a small band of criminals.

He refused to disclose yesterday what he will say to Mr. Smith because he has not yet arranged a meeting.

But he said: "I want to have a meeting with the Commissioner because of concern about increasing crime, certainly for the hotels.

"But I haven't given him the courtesy of a call yet to arrange the meeting, so I'd rather not discuss what I want to say to him.

"Generally, though, I'm not sure how widespread the problem of crime is, and how many people are doing it.

"If it's a lot of people there is cause for concern, but if it's just a few people, I would hope there would be a better resolution of the problem.

"The country should not be brought to its knees by just a few people, and if a few are affecting tourism, it is definitely not good at all.'' A Police spokesman said yesterday: "The Service welcomes the opportunity to discuss crime prevention against visitors to the Island, especially in light of the upcoming tourist season.

"We recognise the importance of tourism to the Island, and look forward to successful partnerships with the industry to reduce incidents of crime against our visitors.'' CRIME CRM