Police have pledged to "robustly" use stop and search powers to catch people carrying bladed weapons.

This undertaking came about after a fight between rival gangs in St. David's on Sunday when eight people were arrested and three men treated at King Edward VII Hospital for blunt force trauma and puncture wounds. There were unconfirmed reports that a gun was used during the incident.

At a press conference yesterday afternoon Assistant Police commissioner, Mike Jackman said: "This incident follows a trend of gang behaviour from groups of various geographic areas where blatant disregard for law and order takes place and members of the public are put at risk.

"The Bermuda Police Service has been proactive in doing high visibility patrols in these areas and at the times that we believe this kind of behaviour may occur to prevent it from happening. On this occasion there was a prompt and effective Police response which prevented the behaviour from escalating further and led to a number of arrests."

A Police report said it appeared that Sunday's disturbance involved a large group of men and started at the junction of Southside Road, Cooper's Island Road and Pepper Hall Road in St. George's. Eye-witnesses told The Royal Gazette that between 50 and 100 men were involved.

Mr. Jackman added: "As a result eight men have been arrested and three men were treated for injuries to the body including blunt force trauma and puncture wounds. These injuries appear to be non-life threatening.

"One of the victims is still receiving treatment at KEMH while the two other injured individuals were treated and released. There was an unconfirmed report that a firearm was used in the incident and Police are following lines of inquiry regarding this.

"A major Police investigation into this matter has commenced to identify all of the perpetrators with a view to placing them before the courts. We are seeking the assistance of the public who may have witnessed this incident to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8115.

"We also understand that members of the public may have captured this incident on video cameras or cell phones and we are asking such persons to assist in this inquiry by providing any such copies of these videos or any other relevant footage to Police.

"A copy of this footage can be delivered anonymously to any Police station; or by contacting the Serious Crime Unit directly or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477."

Police said they planned to use stop and search powers allowed under Section 315F of the Criminal Code to conduct searches in specific areas they anticipate violence or the use of bladed or pointed articles.

"We will use this provision more robustly so that persons who believe they can travel in these islands with these types of instruments in their possession will be aware that they are likely to be stopped and searched," Mr. Jackman added, also reassuring the public that the Police will be taking a high visibility approach to combat such behaviour."

Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels believes the incident this weekend may have been a spill over from a fight, which broke out on Friday night at the Devonshire Recreation Club.

He is asking the public to contact Officer Colin King at the Central Serious Crime Unit and for any witnesses to the St. David's area matter to contact Sergeant Jason Smith in St. George's on 293 2222.