Bermuda must deal with offenders as well as victims of abuse, chief probation officer Mr. Melvin Simmons said during a community vigil against violence last night.

Mr. Simmons also said that there must be effective intervention development programmes to help with victim's safety and needs and "judges must know the full extent of damage to victims of physical abuse''.

At Albouy's Point Mr. Simmons along with people from the Women's Resource Centre and the Physical Abuse Centre stood before a small gathering to discuss the increasing violence in Bermuda.

The night also allowed people to pay respects to the victims of violence.

During musical contributions by Shine Hayward and Mr. Elton Richardson physical abuse survivor Ms Ruth Richardson read a poem to the audience about living with constant abuse and finally being able to escape it. The poem was entitled "I Walked Away''.

She told of not being able to get away from the constant kicks and insults from her now ex-husband and how she was finally free to live her life with her children.

STOP THE VIOLENCE -- Concerned Bermudians gathered around Albouys Point to express their concerns about violence in Bermuda. From left are Ms Robin Durham, Ms Zina Mello, Ms Paula Daniels, and Ms Tina Woods.