Supermarket in Somerset.

Arnold's operations manager Cecil Latham said drug pushers were deterring people from shopping at the store.

And he believed a nearby bus shelter -- a magnet for drug activity -- should be demolished.

"I have a serious problem. I've got to talk to someone who is going to listen.'' Mr. Latham said he had reached the point where he felt like taking the law into his own hands.

His comments came at a two-hour public meeting last night at St. James Church Hall, Sandys Parish, organised by the Police as part of a bid to forge closer ties with the community. The focus was on drugs.

About 20 people attended, including Opposition Sen. Terry Lister and Progressive Labour Party MPs for the area Walter Roberts and Dennis Lister.

Representing the Police were Chief Insp. Roger Brydon; Insp. Randolph Liverpool and Sandys parish constable Lee-Roma Swan.

Mr. Latham said dozens of youths regularly congregated at the bus stop opposite Arnold's, playing loud music and stopping traffic coming into the parking lots.

Some customers told him they no longer shopped at the store, he claimed.

Mr. Latham added he had been trying to get in touch with Police Commissioner Colin Coxall about the problem.

Insp. Liverpool said Police were aware of the problem and patrols had been stepped up.

But Police manpower was insufficient to eradicate it.

"It's difficult when you have 50 young people out there and only four Police officers to deal with it.

"We don't have enough officers working at one time -- although we have had officers go there and search people for drugs.'' Other people in the audience called for Police patrols to safeguard children going to school between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

There were also appeals for greater Police efforts to catch the drug kingpins.

One man said the Bermuda Regiment should be drafted in to boost Police manpower.

"If a few skulls have to be cracked, then crack them,'' he said.

Another man said public confidence would be boosted if Police revealed statistics on the destruction of drugs seized from dealers.

Insp. Liverpool said Police faced major difficulties in getting enough evidence to bring drug lords to trial.

Often arrested drug dealers and pushers refused to divulge the "Mister Bigs'' financing the illegal trade, he said.

POLICE POL BUSINESS BUC