A startling number of women in Bermuda are dealing with harassment from men on a daily basis according to statistics released by the Women's Resource Centre.

The helping agency is reporting a rise in the number of cases of harassment this year with 28 cases reported to the centre between January to June. Last year there were 46 cases of harassment in total during 2003.

Executive director of the Women's Resource Centre, Penny Dill, said the numbers are worrying as the centre is dealing with an increase in the number of harassment cases bordering on stalking.

Telephone calls, stalking in the streets, slashed tyres and unannounced visits to women's place of work or residence are just the tip of the iceberg, according to Mrs. Dill.

She is calling on the Police to intervene early on in such situations to prevent the situation from escalating. Involving men's agencies in helping to prevent violence against women is also on the centre's agenda.

"We depend on the Police to step in before the tyres are slashed and the telephone calls start. We need them to say to men, if you don't stop this kind of behaviour it's going to get you in trouble."

Mrs. Dill continued: "This is becoming a growing concern. He will call on her phone at home, then it goes from there to calling her at work. We've just dealt with a case where an employer has said if this continues I will have to let you go.

"It gradually gets worse, and it borders on stalking," said Mrs. Dill. "Bermuda is such a small community. You will bump into the person but there's a difference in bumping into the person and following them to where they are going at night.

"The individual has to ask themselves is this normal behaviour or whether this is becoming obsessed with that person. Individuals need to ask themselves if they have crossed over from behaving normally to having an obsession."

To date, the Women's Resource Centre has dealt with just over 100 clients out of which there were 20 reported incidents of domestic violence, one incident of stalking, six incidents sexual abuse, 16 issues involving marital relationship, and one case of psychological abuse.

In total, 59 clients have received counselling. In the Centre's court advocacy programme, 52 clients received assistance.

She said while the majority of cases are where an ex-boyfriend just cannot let go, many are landlord-tenant issues and other situations which happen openly in public.

"It's on the rise, not just in relationships but in the community as a whole. We seem to be getting very aggressive as a community," said Mrs. Dill.

Mrs. Dill said aggression and stress levels are rising among women who are sole breadwinners and depend on good relationships with their landlords and their employers.

Women on women violence is also an issue, particularly in situations where a former boyfriend a woman may have depended on for financial support has left her and moved on.

"A lot comes down to education and self-esteem which we are working on. The problem is that you have women who are working two to three jobs to support their children and are relying on him to help them get by.

"He has found someone else, she's not in a well paid job and she is feeling hostility towards the other woman," she said.

Mrs. Dill said there are many cases which continue to remain unreported. Family problems, harassment among elderly women by other family members involved in drugs are also issues putting stress on local families.

"We have to help people understand that there are other ways to deal with their aggression and there are places they can go to for help," said Mrs. Dill.

"Now I think to a certain extent it is up to some of the men's organisations to come together to find out what the problems are," said Mrs. Dill.

Alvin Goldbourne Director of the Father's Resource Centre said men are victims of harassment as well and their experiences may be equivalent to women. While he recognises the importance of working in tandem with the WRC to put a stop to abuse, men continue to experience harassment as well.

Relationship break-ups are a main factor in triggering feelings of anger and resentment which can lead to harassment.

"The most important thing is to recognise it exists and for men to realise there is help," said Mr. Goldbourne. "Sometimes men just don't report it, it becomes that old approach of take it like a man."