The Bermuda Police Association has called for CS spray to be issued to protect officers as the Island becomes increasingly violent.

BPA secretary Dave Kinnersley has also backed Commissioner Jonathan Smith's call for increased policing levels in the wake of this week's violence at White Hill Field.

Machete and baseball bat-wielding thugs were involved in massive disturbances at a reggae concert in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with Police also investigating reports of a gun being brandished.

"We have once again seen that hooligan elements exist in our community and they are prepared to use bladed weapons, a possible firearm and other objects to achieve their violent aims, whatever they may be," Mr. Kinnersley told The Royal Gazette.

"Yet again we have seen our members facing violent, confrontational situations of public disorder that require sound judgment and common sense policing tactics to resolve. As well as providing additional officers, we believe it would be prudent to provide current serving, and any future additional officers, with an added option to adequately protect the community and themselves.

"We at the BPA believe this option should be the issue of CS spray."

Mr. Kinnersley said the debilitating sprays should be added to the service's everyday arsenal, which already includes an expandable baton and rigid bar handcuffs.

The sprays are known to cause eyes to shut and produce a burning sensation and have been introduced in other countries where Police are unarmed to incapacitate violent offenders.

The BPA has become increasingly concerned about assaults on officers and believe introducing the self-defence sprays would help protect front-line staff.

"Over a sustained period, members of the Bermuda Police have had to cope with demands for service which have stretched the ranks of the thin blue line," he continued.

"Our members have carried out this difficult, and often demanding, task in the face of ever increasing threats, and actual acts, of violence.

"A spray is used in other jurisdictions and research, particularly in the UK which also has an unarmed police service, has shown that following the issue of such sprays some years ago, the level of officers assaulted on duty has fallen.

"This in turn has enabled officers to better protect the community they serve, and we would urge the Bermuda Government to seriously consider issuing this tried and proven protective equipment."

He added that he was looking for the introduction of the sprays for both uniform and plainclothes officers.

As well as better equipping staff, he said more officers were needed to combat both the increasing problem of gang violence in Bermuda and the everyday policing of the Island.

"There is definitely a requirement for additional front-line resources so that they are equipped to deal with the ever increasing demands that are being placed upon the Police," he added.

"Island-wide, additional uniformed resources would be an advantage but to deal with public order incidents, as we saw over the Bank Holiday, clearly it would be advantageous if the Police Support Unit received additional resources to increase public protection."

Although Mr. Kinnersley refused to be drawn on how acute the staffing problems were in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette understands that, at times, the entire Island can be left with as few as 11 officers available for front-line duty, even late in the evening when public order problems are at their worst.