The Opposition United Bermuda Party today called for an immediate increase in Police manpower for a “strong and sustained night and day presence on the streets”.

At a press conference, Shadow Minister for Public Safety Senator Michael Dunkley said: “Just as the crime crisis is a Bermuda problem, it is going to take people from all walks of life, working together, to help us get an upper hand on the situation.”

Since May there have been 14 shootings where people have been injured, culminating in the murder of 30-year-old Kumi Harford who was gunned down ten days ago on St. Monica’s Road. It is believed the shooting was gang-related.

Sen. Dunkley said the UBP wanted to see:

* Immediate increases in Police manpower for a strong and sustained night and day presence on the streets.

* Immediate, significant increases in the Police budget to provide them with all the tools and training they need to better detect and catch criminals.

* Community-wide ‘Peace Talks’ for solutions that help gang members become good citizens and to restore peace to our neighbourhoods.

Sen. Dunkley added: “The ideas we put forward today are not meant to be comprehensive in terms of solving the crisis in its totality — it is simply too complex for one statement — but to make the point that we can do things now, concrete things, that can make a difference to a situation that troubles all of us.”

* See the full story in tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.