Violent crime leapt in the last quarter compared to the same period last year, Police said yesterday, adding that more must be done to curb the problem.

And Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said victims of crime are increasingly resorting to revenge rather than using the Police Service.

Unveiling the third quarter crime statistics yesterday, Mr. Adams took heart from the fact the figures for violent crime were lower than they had been for the previous three months.

There were 64 violent offences committed over the last quarter.

“The statistics remain significantly higher this quarter compared to the same period last year,” he said.

“This would tend to suggest that we still have much work to do in the area and to address some of the causes of this behaviour.”

He said Police have been targeting anti-social behaviour at social gatherings such as concerts.

Sixty officers were deployed in Dockyard for a concert which netted 31 arrests, Mr. Adams said. Most of the arrests were drug related. Another event at Clearwater Beach led to 17 arrests, ten of which were for drug offences.

“Weapons were seized at both locations,” Mr. Adams said. “A 21-year-old man was arrested for possession of a stun gun while en route to Clearwater the very next evening.”

Another stun-gun incident took place in September, when a man was arrested after jolting his victim unconscious with a stun gun on Front Street.

“Investigations into offences involving personal violence continue to be frustrated by the reluctance of victims to complain,” Mr. Adams said.

“In some cases, victims are known to have exacted personal retribution resulting in escalation.”

He urged people not to take the law into their own hands as it would only bring them more trouble - this time from Police.

Police are vigorously pursuing violent crime including gang-related assaults, said Mr. Adams.

In other crime statistics, stealing offences are up with handbag snatching and stealing from unattended vehicles accounting for much of the increase.

Breaking and entering is up compared to the previous three months but down compared to the same period last year.

“Much of this activity is attributed to a small number of career criminals who commit disproportionately large numbers of breaking and enterings to support drug habits,” said Mr. Adams.

“Our efforts to deter this activity have resulted in five offenders being sentenced to terms of imprisonment for between six and 12 months.

“One persistent offender was sentenced to seven years by the Supreme Court.”

Vehicle theft leapt this quarter from the previous three months but, again, was below last year's total.

“The increase during this period was greatest during the month of August when three prolific offenders were active,” Mr. Adams said.

“One, a 36-year-old drug addict was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for a series of break and removals.

“Another is currently awaiting sentencing in the Supreme Court for a number of offences.

“A third individual was sentenced to three months imprisonment on one count of stealing and is awaiting trial scheduled for later this month for similar offences.”

Mr. Adams said the vehicle crime unit made 60 arrests during the period - 24 were for bike stealing offences.

“Overall, this quarter is up over the second quarter but slightly down compared to the same period last year.

“When reviewing third quarter crime figures overall, the figures for this quarter are the lowest since 1998.”

Mr. Adams said Police welcomed Government's pledge to increase penalties for people who attack officers.

A law tabled last week aims to treble the maximum jail sentence for assaults on Police, Customs and Prison officers to three years while maximum fines have also doubled.

But Mr. Adams said it was premature to say whether a deterrent effect would make life easier for Police.