New policing measures announced earlier this week are appropriate but should have been included in the 2010/2011 budget say the UBP.

On Wednesday Minister of Home Affairs David Burch and Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva unveiled six measures to help combat the rising gun crime at a total cost of $1 million.

Both the United Bermuda Party and The Bermuda Democratic Alliance say they fully support the initiatives.

However Shadow Public Safety Minister, Michael Dunkley questioned the apparent lack of planning for including similar measures in the budget which was recently passed by the legislature.

"We are in full support of the measures announced on Wednesday by the Minister and Police Commissioner and it is important to note that we have been on record for some time calling for initiatives like these, most recently last week during our press conference," said Mr. Dunkley.

"It is appropriate however to question the lack of planning for an integrated approach to fighting crime in the budget for 2010/2011 just passed by the legislature.

"It should also be remembered that the budget was late in being debated and one would have thought due to that, and the violence of last year and early this year, a concerted effort would have been made to address this in the budget. That was not the case."

And the BDA are also in favour of the measures according to BDA MP Mark Pettingill.

"We need immediate action and people should be supportive of this," he said.

"These measures are a result of a serious crisis in gang activity and I am confident that the steps that are needed to be taken are a result of the best advice available.

"It is time for politicians and citizens to come together and support efforts to solve the problem."

At a press conference last Wednesday Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva, along with Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Col. David Burch, described the new crime-fighting measures.

The measures include bringing more than a dozen UK officers trained in firearms to the Island and hiring 14 temporary operational support staff for analysis and case review work.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is to offer further training and Bermuda will have access to its information sharing computer system. In exchange, the US will also be alerted when persons of interest travelling from Bermuda enter the US.

The Police will also hire an overseas second Assistant Commissioner with expertise in gangs and send three local Superintendents to operational posts in the UK for further training.

Said Mr. Dunkley: "We note in that budget the Minister commented that ten posts remain unfunded, now we are having to allocate additional spending, which we approve, but it begs the question. Why no prior plan? Did the Government just figure out that experienced officers were required?"

But Mr. Dunkley said that the public must also do their part to help. He said that work needs to be done by the community in tandem with Government to address root causes of the recent violence in Bermuda.

He also lauded the idea of adopting a gun intervention programme called "Operation Ceasefire" which has been successful in reducing gun violence in American cities.

"We must remember the solution to this problem is not up to the Police alone," he said. "It requires a much broader approach, one that involves the community but to do this the Government must provide a plan that not only supports the Police but also changes in legislation, which to date we have witnessed a lot of talk and little action (reconvening Parliament) and perhaps most importantly direct action which deals with the root causes of anti-social behaviour and providing life changing opportunities for those caught up in gangs. In this regard we remain disappointed, but hopeful, that Government has not to date seen the merit in a community approach such as "Operation Ceasefire". It works!"