Government plans to crack down on youth violence, including exploring setting up a US-style S.W.A.T. team and looking at laws to make parents more responsible for the actions of their children, drew a strong response from Royal Gazette readers.

Many readers questioned the need for a S.W.A.T. team, while parental responsibility laws also drew strong responses, both for and against.

But the Government's decision to tackle crime was generally welcomed.

Below are excerpts from some of the responses. See www.theroyalgazette.com for more.

"Bermuda already has a SWAT team. They are called ERT: Emergency Response Team and they are every bit as well trained as they need to be" – John Manderson.

"A Bermuda SWAT team will send a negative message to our visitors that Bermuda is no longer a safe destination and to our community that Government is out to wage war on our soil" – Crime Prevention Specialist.

"What you need is a gang task force like we have in some cities in the States. Put about ten armed cops in a van and send them out to randomly harass your unfriendly neighbourhood wall lizards on a regular basis" – Frequent Visitor.

"Speaking on Dr. Ewart Brown's statement 'action against drug dealers in Bermuda will soon get so tough people may think it will infringe upon their human rights', it's about time! Things are getting WAY out of hand and enough is enough!" – Christie

"I believe that parents should be prosecuted for their children's criminal behaviour. ... This will force parents to physically pay attention to what's happening in their children's lives and it will give them a wake-up call" – Reader.