Buses will run as normal this Hallowe?en ? but with Police on board every one.

The Island will be divided into 13 sectors with four to six uniformed officers per sector and certain ?trouble spots? highlighted in preparation for tonight, the Bermuda Police Service announced at a Press conference yesterday.

There will be 100 officers on patrol, with an additional 36 Reserve Police called up to man the buses. Two Reserve Police will be on board each bus with officers from Com Ops ready to help should they encounter trouble.

Union representative for the bus drivers Glenn Simmons said at the conference that the 130-plus operators felt ?very secure? with the arrangements thanks to Police and precautions taken within the education system. In the past buses have stopped running completely at 6 p.m. on Hallowe?en.

?We are not going to allow a few people to deter the general public from riding the buses,? he said, adding that if any incidents did occur, bus operations may be stopped.

Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said Police had significantly enhanced their ability to deal with acts of hooliganism tonight.

?Should the need arise we will respond with sufficient numbers to deter negative behaviour and apprehend offenders,? he said. ?We are asking the public to contact us with any information that they might have relating to the intention of any person or persons to commit offences on Hallowe?en night.

?We have already received reports earlier this week of eggs being thrown and in one instance a bottle being thrown at a Police car.?

Mr. Adams also mentioned the recent discovery of a pile of debris at the Royal Naval Field in Somerset which Police suspected was to be used as a bonfire.

?Our suspicions were confirmed when during the process of removing the debris Works & Engineering personnel discovered a number of stored Molotov cocktails.

?We have since then visited various areas of the Island searching for similar stock piles in our efforts to minimise threats to public safety.?

Mr. Adams said no more Molotov cocktails had since been found, but he pointed out that in the past they had been discovered in all areas on the Island. He added that Police had highlighted certain ?trouble spots? on the Island. ?We do not intend that public safety should be compromised and those persons who may be tempted to indulge in illegal behaviour should understand that if caught committing offences they will be arrested, detained and placed before the courts.? Such persons could face penalties of up to one year in jail for summary offences, while sentences received for more serious crimes dealt with by the Supreme Courts can vary.

Mr. Adams asked that adults accompany small children trick-or-treating along public roads and carry flashlights or wear reflective clothing to indicate their presence.

CedarBridge Academy also put out an advisory to the public asking for volunteers to be a presence at the school during the school day or ride the bus with students after school. Those interested may contact Roshanda Caines at 296-5665 ext. 2137 or at rcainescedarbridge.doe.bm.