Violent crime in Bermuda is at its lowest level in nine years, Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith reported yesterday.

The chief of the Island's Police force revealed the last three month's crime statistics and said, overall, the trend was pleasing, although he said vehicle crime continued to plague motorists and accounted for more than half of all offences.

Between July and the end of September, Bermuda recorded 51 violent crimes, in comparison to 101 for the same period in 1996.

Last year during that three-month period, there were 82 violent crimes.

Offences of stealing are also down and are at their lowest levels in seven years, however, the Island is experiencing fluctuations in the number of breaking and entering cases.

But the number of vehicle removals continues to climb across the Island.

"Crimes involving violence continue to move in the right direction - that is down," said Mr. Smith, at a press conference yesterday.

"For the first nine months of this year, there have been 176 such reported cases. These figures are at their lowest levels in nine years, an encouraging trend that we would like to see continue."

But Mr. Smith said the number of breaking and entering offences tended to alter from quarter to quarter, depending on which offenders were in jail and which were not.

He added: "The Island continues to experience unacceptably high levels of vehicle crime. The figures show that more than 50 percent of the crimes on our selected crime report are vehicle crime (theft) offences and we continue to experience an increase in this category of crime.

"Once again, we emphasise the important of properly securing your vehicles - particularly bikes - as car removals are less common.

"Double lock your bikes and motorcycles - don't place them at an unnecessary risk."

The Police Commissioner said there was increasing reports of bike theft from areas outside of the City of Hamilton.

He said bikes were now also being stolen from outside people's home in all parishes, and he believed CCTV cameras in the city had displaced the criminals to the outlying areas.

"We continue to target certain offenders here and those who engage in the theft and removal are warned that we will be stepping up our enforcement in this area," he said.

Assistant Police Commissioner Carlton Adams said he believed vehicle crime was motivated by drug habits and a need for quick cash.

He said often the bikes were stripped down and sold for parts, and sometimes licence plates were altered slightly in a bid to get around the law.

While he said Police were doing all they could to target the vehicle criminals, it was important for members of the public to educate themselves on the best ways to avoid falling victim.

To conclude the press conference, Mr. Smith said crime rates were relatively stable and had been for the last two years, and said he wished to acknowledge his officers who had worked above and beyond to ensure the Island remained a safe place to live.

"Compliments to our operational Police officers and reserves who continue to work amidst some staff shortages, that can now be addressed, and in working conditions that do not meet the standards that are required for Policing in 2002," said Mr. Smith.

"We look forward, with great anticipation, to the improvements in our physical plant that has been promised for Hamilton, Southside, and for the future, at Police headquarters itself. "