Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton has pledged an all out assault on drugs and gang related activities following the release of figures which show a 13 percent increase in violent crime in 2004.

And he called on parents to take greater responsibility for their children and make more concerted efforts to ensure the support structures they need were consistently in place.

At a Press conference to release the crime figures for 2004 on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith said a significant upturn in Island-wide gang warfare was at the heart of the troubling statistics, while he further suggested the inadequacy of drug rehabilitation programmes at Westgate were contributing to serial re-offending once prisoners were released.

In an interview with yesterday, Mr. Horton conceded the figures were of "extreme concern", while stressing he was intent on proactively "attacking the problem".

He revealed also the launching of a "bold" new initiative on the part of the Commissioner of Prisons Hubert Dean, who is in the process of establishing a special squad tasked with penetrating the prison system and uncovering the routes by which a growing amount of drugs are finding their way into Westgate.

"We have seen an increase in the number of incidents of public disorder which is troubling," Mr. Horton said.

"There are a number of things we as a Government have put in place which I believe will bear fruit further down the line while there are other bold cross-ministry initiatives which will be coming into effect very soon in order to tackle the problems society faces."

The Criminal Code Amendment Act ? passed late last year ? which significantly increased penalties for violent offenders, is one of the initiatives Minister Horton is convinced will be reap rewards in the long-term, as well as steadily increasing the resources of the Police Support Unit.

He further announced that funding has just been approved by Cabinet for another 11 Police officers to join the PSU.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is also currently working on witness protection legislation which it hopes will persuade more witnesses of crime to come forward and testify in trials without fear of reprisal.

"The amendment to the Criminal Code last year was an important step," he argued.

"With higher penalties, more arrests, more prosecutions and hopefully more convictions, I think the deterrent against this sort of behaviour will be keenly felt."

Addressing the issue of gang violence, Mr. Horton said Government recognised the "immense challenges" to the community and Police currently posed by these groups of "disaffected young men" and insisted the numerous initiatives to be launched under the umbrella of the Social Agenda will provide a more positive outlet for them.

He further echoed the sentiments of Commissioner Smith in calling on the community to do more to help, placing great emphasis on improved parenting.

"Certainly we are all in this together," he said.

"And while we can increase resources for Police to attack this from an enforcement standpoint, there is a great amount of responsibility which rests with the parents to play a more effective role in the nourishment of their offspring. Something which I believe is becoming a more pronounced problem is the presence of children, often no more than ten and 11, out on the streets late at night. I see it often. Where are their parents? There is no doubt we can take measures from our end, but more effective parenting would go a long way to dealing with this issue ? something I believe the Education Ministry is increasingly pressing for as well."

Mr. Horton urged the community to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy towards crime by immediately reporting offences when they take place and not turning a blind eye ? something he believes happens "far too often".

He also announced the prospect of an Education Ministry sponsored conference on youth crime and drugs later this year, at which he is urging "full participation".

Drugs continue play a central part in "almost all crime" in Bermuda, Mr. Horton admitted, and agreed with Commissioner Smith in saying the rehabilitation programmes at Westgate need to produce better results.

"No rehabilitation programme in Bermuda is perfect or completely effective or there would not be any re-offenders," he said.

"This has become one of my major focuses and now that we've resolved a number of administrative issues within the corrections system, I'm confident the substance abuse programmes can move forward and expand."

The Minister pointed to additional schemes such as "Uncommon Results" ? a counselling initiative which helps inmates deal with low self-esteem ? and the Transitional Living Centre which assists released prisoners to ease back into society, as further examples of programmes he hopes will minimise the number of repeated offenders.

"What I feel also needs to take place is a further increase in resources available to people once they are released from prison, so that they can continue, with assistance if needed, to keep their lives on the straight and narrow," he said.

"Just before Christmas I attended a dinner at the Transitional Living Centre, where former residents came back and spoke of their experiences and what they learned. It was tremendous. I also think employment is a key factor. I'd like to thank a number of employers out there who have been great in ensuring those who come out of prison find work and can support themselves. This also must continue and expand if we are to ensure former prisoners do not return to their bad old ways."