against drugs and help protect the community.

Mr. Colin Coxall, the new Police Commissioner, told a meeting of Warwick residents that he hoped to produce warning posters to put up at departure points warning that Bermuda had a zero tolerance policy for drugs.

The announcement was in response to a question from the audience about what offshore methods the Police could take to stem the flow of drugs into Bermuda.

It was one of many Mr. Coxall fielded during Tuesday's two-and-a-half hour meeting attended by about 100 people expressing their concerns over the crime rate in Warwick and Bermuda.

As well as Mr. Coxall, the Hon. Quinton Edness, Minister for Health and Social Services, was present with Warwick East MP Mr. Alex Scott and Warwick West MP Dr. Ewart Brown.

Mr. Coxall said: "A lot of people are locked up here not realising Bermuda has a nil drugs policy and that people are likely to end up in prison. We do not get that message across.'' He said he was working with airlines and shipping companies to produce posters warning potential smugglers, adding that the fight against crime needed an approach involving many different agencies.

The meeting, at St. Mary's Church Hall, was also told that a new Police Station for Warwick, first proposed in 1979, was no longer to be built because no money was in the budget.

However, the decision was apparently accepted by the audience who heard that Mr. Coxall planned to free more officers to work on the beat, raising the Police profile.

Mr. Coxall was challenged by a hotel owner about what could be done to combat crime against visitors which was labelled "a crime against the nation''.

Mr. Coxall added: "If we can get more officers onto the streets, there will be more officers near hotels and if we get more officers onto solving the drugs problem, there will be less youngsters on the streets.'' Asked at the meeting what the community could do, Mr. Coxall said they could concentrate on crime prevention. He was also challenged to ensure Police officers joined the community more, such as playing football with local youngsters.

All the politicians present at the meeting, appeared to support Mr. Coxall, and Mr. Scott, the Shadow Home Affairs Minister, said having more officers on the streets would help them interact with the community.

"We want to be in the business of preventing crime, preventing drug abuse and knowing who the trouble makers are,'' added Mr. Scott.

"The new Police sub-station may appear to be a good idea, but we do not want more officers sitting there not doing what we want.'' Last night, Dr. Brown, of the PLP, said he believed more similar meetings should be held around the Island and that members of the audience came out with some creative ideas.

"Mr. Coxall's presentation indicated he has a modern day attitude to Policing. We will see just what happens under his leadership, but he says the right things.''