Reported crime fell heavily last year, though Police remain concerned about the high level of violent crime on the Island.

There were nearly 400 fewer offences committed in 2003 than 2002, although the incidence of violent crime did rise.

Statistics released for the final three months of last year by Police yesterday were the the lowest quarterly crime figures for three years ? although violent crime, particularly assaults occasioning grievous bodily harm, were up to more than two a week in October, November and December.

There were a total of 72 violent offences in the three-month period but only 654 offences overall, nearly 300 less than the same period last year and the lowest for the winter months since 1997.

And although Police were themselves strangely unable to release annual figures, has calculated that reported crime has fallen by almost 400 offences from 2002 to 2682 in the year, although violent crime did rise to 252 incidents from 236.

Incidents of stealing, vehicle theft and breaking offences also fell compared to the previous year.

?What we can say is that the fourth quarter reported crime figures represent the lowest quarterly figures that we have released since 2001,? Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith told a press conference at the service?s Prospect headquarters yesterday.

?While this may, on the face of it, represent some encouraging news, there remain several problematic areas of criminal activity.

?Violent crime and offences involving public disorder featured prominently in the news during the last two months or so.

?Crimes of violence, although they remain at less than one reported offence per day, rose slightly in the last quarter compared with the corresponding period in the previous year.

?Over the course of the year, the number of reported violent offences in 2003 was marginally below that reported in 2002.

?The community can expect to see our continued focus on arresting those individuals involved in violent crime and public disorder offences, the investigation of such offences and the presentation of case files to the DPP for consideration.

?We are paid to keep the pressure up on offenders.?

Mr. Smith was also keen to pay tribute to officers for their work, which included high-visibility policing operations as the holiday season approached.

?I wish to take this opportunity to publicly commend the efforts of our BPS staff for their excellent work in making many high profile arrests in November and December in particular,? he continued.

?These arrests, coupled with a heightened Police presence at many locations in Bermuda and the decisions made by the courts to remand several accused persons in custody all contributed to a greater felling of safety and security as we entered 2004.

?I would also like to thank all of those members of the community and those in positions of leadership in this country who took the time to congratulate the Service and our staff for the crime and disorder reduction efforts.

?Given the difficult working conditions that we face and the fact that many of our officers sustained injuries during the year it was particularly gratifying to know that these effort were recognised appreciated.?

Just 60 offences of stealing were recorded in the quarter, while breaking offences were down 75 from the same period last year to 290.

Only eight cars were stolen in the three-month period and only 224 other vehicle thefts were reported with motor cycle thefts almost half that of the previous year?s.

?During the year, the Police Support Unit made 664 arrests for a variety of public disorder, drug and warrant offences and these arrests occurred at every known ?hotspot?,? Mr. Smith added.

?These figures do not represent the service?s total efforts in this regard ? but it does illustrate the effective work of this team and the support it is providing to the other operational officers.?