Bermuda Police chiefs and Government. Last night Acting Police Commissioner Michael Mylod and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness pledged action to stamp out the menace.

Latest figures reveal firearms offences shot up 900 percent over the last six months -- from one to ten. Meanwhile, Police and Government yesterday continued attempts to dampen public anxiety over crime, stressing it was on the decline. Mr. Edness took Shadow Public Safety Minister Alex Scott firmly to task for pouring cold water on Police statistics.

Mr. Scott said he understood Policemen were asked to find statistics to present the Service in a good light. And he accused Police Commissioner Colin Coxall of "turning his position into a political post''.

"He is doing a disservice by continually releasing such selective crime statistics.'' But Mr. Edness hit back last night: "I believe the figures to be correct.'' He added: "I'm disappointed in what Mr. Scott says. Surely, he must accept that it is a good thing for Commissioner to put out figures. It is nonsense to say he produces figures that look good.'' This week Police figures showed crime in the Central Parishes -- the City of Hamilton, Paget, Pembroke and Devonshire -- had nosedived.

Yesterday, Police released to The Royal Gazette statistics for the eastern and western divisions. These showed a general fall in crime for the first six months of the year over the same period in 1995. In the east, which takes in the Town of St. George and the parishes of St. George's, Hamilton and Smith's, there were drops in: thefts from persons, from 15 to two (87 percent); burglaries, 30 to eight (73 percent); housebreaking, 79 to 24 (69 percent); Thefts from hotels, three to one (66 percent); office break-ins, five to two (60 percent); robberies, eight to six (25 percent); and store break-ins, ten to nine (10 percent).

There were increases in: assaults, from 38 to 48 (26 percent); and stealing from the house, 21 to 26 (24 percent). There were no reports of murder or handbag snatching.

In the west, which includes Sandys, Southampton and Warwick, drops were reported in: handbag snatching, from five to two (60 percent); store break-ins, 18 to eight (55 percent); thefts from the person, five to three (40 percent); House break-ins, 41 to 31 (24 percent); stealing from the house, 15 to 12 (20 percent); assaults, 52 to 45 (13 percent); and burglaries, 16 to 15 (six percent).

There were increases in: office break-ins, zero to one (100 percent); thefts from hotels, seven to 11 (57 percent); and robberies, eight to ten (25 percent).

CRIME CRM