Progressive Labour Party Sen. Terry Lister called for community workers to be sent to talk to problem young men.

Former Police policies had caused resentment and the results were being seen now, he said.

But Sen. Mike Winfield, for Government, said an over-sympathetic approach in the past might have encouraged kids to drop out of society.

He called for parents to take more responsiblity for their children.

Recent violent crimes were brought up for discussion by Opposition Sen.

Neletha Butterfield.

Government had not been heard from on the subject, she complained. But Opposition MPs in Sandys had stepped in after incidents there.

United Bermuda Party Sen. Yvette Swan said she was appalled to hear some young men involved in beating Police had been shielded by family members.

Sen. Lister said it was no good taking sides and condemning young men or Police. The underlying issues had to be looked at.

He said an "underclass'' was appearing. There were young men who hated the Police, each other, and themselves.

Some young men sat on walls and were idle while others worked harder selling drugs than other people did in regular jobs.

Police had been "directed'' to do things in the past -- like stopping all bikes leaving a parish -- that had led to a group of young people with a negative attitude to officers.

The Police had been understaffed and overstretched and community policing had suffered.

Sen. Winfield said the PLP had made an "extraordinary'' 180-degree turn.

He could remember Opposition senators saying there were too many Police.

"Minimal reductions'' had been made in the force, he said.

It was no good making scapegoats of Police, schools or Government. Modern society was trying to dilute individual responsibility.

"As long as we let any parent cop out of their individual responsibility to their children, we're promoting the problem that we're facing.''