Police are to have their numbers boosted in response to an upsurge in violent crime.

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton said Government had agreed to increase the Service?s authorised size by 11 officers to 450.

And the new officers will be added to the frontline Police Support Unit, which will be converted into a full-time team.

Mr. Horton said: ?As a sign of its commitment to strengthen the Bermuda Police Service and to deal with the Island?s violent criminals even more effectively, the Cabinet has recently approved an increase in the Bermuda Police Service establishment by 11 officers in the next financial year.

?These 11 new Police officers will be dedicated to the Police Support Unit and comprise the first phase of a two-phase plan to create a full time Police Support Unit in the Bermuda Police Service.

?The Government is convinced that these additional established positions will address the changing public order policing requirements of this Island very significantly.?

Mr. Horton also said 14 new Bermudian Police officers are set to start training in January. Additionally, ten new and experienced foreign officers started work in November and nine more foreign officers are completing administrative documents and should join early in the New Year.

The Minister also signalled the end of the gun amnesty but said Government still suspected there were firearms in Bermuda.

?That?s the reason for the importance of us beefing up the force and beefing up our intelligence.

?It?s not something that happens overnight. I am not sure how many but there are certainly guns out there.

?The guns, knives, swords and machetes are all items that can kill or cause serious bodily injury,? he said.

?Many of the other items turned in during the amnesty could be used in the commission of a variety of criminal and violent offences.

?All of those items are now off our streets and out of the hands of criminals who may have had access to them.

?Our streets and other public places are safer as a result and I commend each and every member of the community who responded by turning in firearms and other dangerous and prohibited weapons.?

In light of attacks on Police officers, Government is looking at increasing penalties for perpetrators.

?We will be reviewing the legislation and making changes if necessary.?

He said it was important both the law abiding citizens and criminals know that violent crime would not be tolerated.

He said Police would continue to target violent criminals even though the gun amnesty was over and he said the presence of the Police Support Unit had led to a downturn in crime in hotspots.

?The Bermuda Police Service has made very deliberate efforts over the past seven weeks or so to target greater numbers of violent criminals.

?In that time frame, 18 men and one woman have either been sentenced to a period of incarceration for violent crime or remanded in custody by the Courts.

?Many other violent offenders have appeared in Court or are on bail awaiting trial. The investigative response has been swift, specific and targeted, including the deployment of armed officers where it has been justified.

?The people of Bermuda may be assured that the Bermuda Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to bring offenders to justice and that it will maintain its vigorous pursuit of those responsible for violent offences.?