An increasing number of women are getting involved in the drugs trade, Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said yesterday.

During the budget debate Mr. Lister said that the number of women getting arrested for drugs offences had risen sharply last year to 54 compared with 28 in 2000.

He said: “Of those the majority were drugs mules. Something very disturbing is going on.”

Mr. Lister said that on February 12 there were 23 women at the co-ed facility for narcotics offences - the majority of which were under 25 years-old.

He said: “As a community we need to address this to figure out why this is going on.”

The Government's Alternatives to Incarceration policy had become a reality in the last year said Mr. Lister who mentioned the setting up of the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre, the halfway house, known as the transitional living centre.

He said: “How long did the other government run around looking for places to put the half way house and run into NIMBY-ism everywhere they went, not making decisions. We have it.”

The East End correctional facility was helping turn dead-beat dads into constructive citizens said Mr. Lister who would have to face up to their obligations by working to pay their child maintenance.

He said: “It isn't about those fathers, it's about the children.” The National Training Board will help develop inmates skills in carpentry, masonry, painting and plumbing and a farming officer has also been drafted in.

A new Prison Commissioner would be appointed in the very near future said the minister who praised the work of Acting Commissioner Edwin Wilson and outgoing Commissioner Edward Dyer who retired last year.

Extra prison officers are promised this year as part of the Government's promise made last year to have 36 extra officers.

Mr. Lister said: “17 were brought in last year, there's a plan for more this year.”

And two canine handlers are due to start work on April 1 as Government continues to crack down on drugs inside Westgate.

Drugs will also be at the heart of Police strategy in the coming year as the service works out a drugs strategy. The approach will aim at stopping supply of large shipments, reducing distribution across the island, lessening the demand through prevention and working with overseas police services to pool intelligence.

Information will also be pooled more within the force as drug raids continue. Last year the crack down on clubs, sporting areas and well-known hot spots resulted in 115 drug arrests by the Police Support unit. Mr. Lister said: “The service remains committed to these operations so public concerns are addressed.” Last year drug arrests went up 20 percent while seizures were up 12 percent with only cannabis seizures showing a decline.

New money is being allocated for the police to boost equipment with $210,000 for radios, $280,000 for computers, $50,000 on interview taping facilities, $40,000 for forensic equipment and $24,000 for photography.

A further $4,592,000 was put towards the new $26 million Hamilton Police station in this year's budget. Further work was needed on the Police Complaints Authority, said Mr. Lister, which handles complaints against officers.

He said: “The independent functioning of this authority has been somewhat different during the past year and the required bolstering of the legislative authority for the PCA is close to resolution.”

He said the department would aim to ensure it Plans are afoot to link training with financial assistance said Mr. Lister to help unemployed people get the skills they need.

The Department is also planning internship training programmes to expose locals to the requirements of the job market.

A school-to-work programme will be set up for senior students and there will be studies into online registering of students wanting summer work.

Those who fail to find work will be able to take advantage of a trade summer camp.