Try zero toleranceJuly 4, 2002Dear Sir,As a long time visitor to Bermuda and daily reader of the Gazette I find I must comment on the “pat” replies from the Police spokesperson about almost anything that happens in Bermuda.

Without fail they say “ we must be vigilant”.

They must be vigilant about speeding. Speeding and the posted speeds in Bermuda are a joke. I remember regular radar traps outside Astwood Cove. I’ve not seen that in years.

They must be vigilant about drugs. They are not acting, they are watching because the problem is so much bigger that only a few years ago. Apart from the odd US college student I don’t seem to notice any locals falling afoul of the “law” sic.

They must be vigilant about gangs. As a visitor I can see the growth of such in the past years. I used to look at groups of kids as just that. Not now, I am on their patch and I am not sure I want to be.

I believe that the Police must stop being vigilant and begin being pro active. Use the model of New York City. You start with a zero tolerance for the most minor things and go from there — no speeding, no drugs, no gangs, no problem.

JIM HARDIE

Toronto, Canada