Although youth on youth violence is getting worse, few of the Island's young people are surprised.

And some believe it stems from a lack of things to do while others think the increase of violence among the young is a direct result of drugs.

On Monday afternoon a Royal Gazette reporter took to the streets to talk with some students about reasons why they are attacking one another.

When asked why there was an increase in youth on youth crime, one 16-year-old student said: "Well, I am into that stuff.'' Asked what stuff he was talking about he replied: "I'm in to stealing and fighting. It's just to get a thrill because there is nothing else to do, nothing exciting.

"The most exciting thing to do in Bermuda is go fishing or going out.'' The youth added: "I steal from the white man. I ain't got no food in the fridge, I ain't got nothing.'' And when asked about a solution to the problem he said: "There is no solution. Bring us an amusement park or something to do.'' Fifteen-year-old Ze Lee said: "Everyone is getting ignorant. A lot of these guys step up to one another and play the `gangsta' role.

"Everyone is trying to be noticed by everyone.'' He added: "I don't know if there is a solution because no-one is going to listen to any grown-ups. A lot of guys and girls are smoking herb and then they drink alcohol. Stuff runs through your mind and you think you're untouchable. Bermuda is going down to the dogs.'' Devon Allen, 14, and Tenea Hendrickson, who think of themselves as sisters, agreed that youth on youth violence was getting worse.

"We protect each other if someone says something to the other,'' Devon said, adding she would slap the person who was troubling Tenea.

Tenea replied: "Yeah, and I would jump in with her.'' However, Devon added that the problem stems from the fact that "children are too rude. There is no solution because no-one can stop people from doing anything.'' Thirteen-year-old Michelle Walks said she thought there was an increase because a lot of the youth were "smoking weed to be cool, trying to fit in with everyone else''.

Janeek Province, 14, said the younger kids were starting to copy the older guys at a younger age. "Everyone wants to be like the older people doing stuff they see them getting away with. There is also a television influence.

"A solution to the problem may be if they find something for them to do like a job.'' Dawn Gibbons, 14, said young people were pulling knives on each other. "A lot of it is because of drugs and they are stealing money from each other to get drugs,'' she said. "A solution would be for people to stop worrying what others think of them.'' Kyle Rogers, 13, said the problems between youths arose because knives were being brought to schools.

"As I get older I can feel the violence rising higher and higher. I think it is just despicable.'' Fourteen-year-old Michael Pantry said he believed that drugs -- more than television violence was one of the reasons youth on youth violence was increasing.

"Kids need to be more educated on violence and drugs,'' he said.

Adrienne Smith, 12, said: "I think the violence is getting worse because more drugs are coming in and more people are accepting them which causes violence.

A solution would be to take all the drugs away and arrest anyone who has a drug problem.'' Alex Edwards, 11, also said the violence was due to the fact that more drugs were coming into Bermuda.

"Everyone wants drugs and people are stealing. Government should ban drugs from Bermuda.'' Jahkimmo Smith, 15, had a different idea about why youth on youth violence was getting worse.

"My eyes have been open because I go to church and youth on youth violence is going to get worse before it gets better.

"We are in Revelations right now and things are going to get worse because that is suppose to happen. The youth can make the choice to follow the Lord's way or follow someone else. They don't like to listen to older people they want to listen to each other and that is why someone like me, who is in the church, is trying to talk to them.''