credit.

While many of the people arrested in the last 48 hours have yet to go to court, a potentially dangerous situation for the whole of Bermuda appears to have been defused.

There may well be criticisms of the Police, who in an operation of this kind may end up arresting some people who only have a scant connection with the recent incidents.

But it also seems clear that with Molotov cocktails being seized from around the Island and other weapons also being discovered, Bermuda could have been in for a very bad time.

In recent years, the Police became much more effective at rapidly responding to major incidents and have been able to put a large number of officers into action when they were needed. It is good to see that the Service still has that capability.

There has been some criticism of the terminology used, both by the Police and the media, in describing the recent outbursts of violence at PHC and on Court Street.

It has been argued that if you call a group a gang, then that is what it will become. And it is true that Bermuda's gangs, crews and posses are, thankfully, a far cry from their counterparts in Jamaica or the US.

But when a group of youths armed with baseball bats invade a workmen's club, apparently looking for a rival group, it is difficult to know how to describe them other than as a gang, and the horror of the incident, as described by the club's president, cannot be downplayed.

It is clear that the Police took these incidents seriously and responded quickly.

Cynics may see a link between the Police response in this case and the fact that the Commission on Serious Crime just began its meeting. That would be unfair and a disservice to the officers involved in this case.

At the same time, this would appear to be a blueprint for how the Police should deal with a situation of this kind. It is to be hoped the Police will learn from past mistakes in other kinds of cases in order to ensure that serious crimes such as murders and drugs seizures are investigated just as efficiently and effectively.

PASSPORT CONTROL EDT Passport control Many of the good reasons why Government should push Britain to follow through on its pledge to give its Overseas Territories citizens UK passports have been well aired already and do not need to be repeated.

But there could not be a more compelling example of why its a good idea than the situation of Bermuda's young footballers undergoing trials with professional teams in England.

According to their agent, some of the players have a good chance of being signed, but uncertainty over their work permit situations is holding them back.

The fact that Bermudians may be prevented from shining on a much bigger stage is a shame, and it does not apply to footballers alone -- thousands of talented young Bermudians would benefit from gaining experience, if not fame, in the UK and the rest of Europe.

Years have passed since Britain first floated the idea of giving out UK passports. Government should press the UK to get a move on.

It is hard to think of a more compelling reason for the UK Government to move quickly on its promises to give British passports to its British Overseas Territories citizens than the work permit problems Bermudians now face.