A barrister has called for more community beat officers to tackle the Island's growing drugs problem.

Mark Pettingill, Opposition MP for Warwick West, used his inaugural speech in the House of Assembly to raise concern about the rise in hard drug use, particularly crack cocaine.

The barrister claimed the increase in crime on the Island was predominantly linked to drugs, with dealers at "the root of the tree" which needed to be cut down.

Mr. Pettingill said: "We have to tear down the crack houses in our country.

"Those of us in this House know where they are because our constituents tell us. We need to tear them down and address the community issue of drugs.

"We need to raise community policing, to put a constituency officer in every constituency, and let people know him, have him as a presence and first point of call if people see people dealing."

Mr. Pettingill told fellow MPs: "Your community will buy into it. I believe this may be a better way forward for the Police and the authorities and the people who live in these communities.

"But right now it's not happening," he said. "So if this Government is sincere about a collaborative effort then please, I beg you to consider this community policing.

"Go to the Police Commissioner and organise 36 officers in each constituency. Community policing may be the answer and the way forward to defeating crime in this country."

Another new MP however, said Government was doing everything in its power to address the rise in crime.

In his first address to the House, Walter Roban, MP for Pembroke East, said: "It is in the Throne Speech that we are attending to the issue of manpower and the issue of strategic policing, and to ensure that we are working with the Police Service and the Governor to ensure that we have effective policing.

"The Minister for Public Safety (Senator David Burch) has already shown to the country that the most effective policing will be in place for this country."

The Throne Speech states: "Government will continue to identify areas of non-essential policing and provide alternative resources to assist the Bermuda Police Service in more strategic deployment options."