AT A GLANCE — WHERE THE TWO PARTIES STAND ON CRIME, AND WHAT THE STATISTICS SHOW:

THE PROGRESSIVE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO: What they pledge on crime

• Increased funding to boost Police manpower.

• Hire international law enforcement support, and upgrade Police equipment and other resources.

• Expand youth services to keep them out of trouble including investment in cricket and football

• Continue the Alternatives to Incarceration programme which, according to the party has resulted in a recidivism rate at an all-time low in the prisons.

• "Although it is the Governor to whom the Commissioner of Police reports on operational policing — and not the Government — the Government will continue to work with Government House and the Commissioner of Police to remove the perception of public vulnerability to the criminal element."

• Expand the role and staffing of the Bermuda Regiment to assist the Police with non-policing duties. Where possible, combine uniformed support services to effect greater cost savings.

l Implement a 'home grown' anti gang initiative."

Although not mentioned in the manifesto, the long-overdue rebuilding of Hamilton Police station started earlier this month, and the party has also pledged to renovate and re-open the Police station in St. George's. They are also committed to another two years of the Mirrors programme for at-risk youths.

Ministers have indicated that they favour an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than what Minister of Public Safety David Burch termed the "draconian" mandatory terms for habitual offenders promulgated by the UBP.

THE UNITED BERMUDA PARTY MANIFESTO:

• Legislation to ensure that repeat offenders are sentenced to long periods of incarceration under a "three strikes and you're out" scheme coupled with enhanced rehabilitation.

• A Victim's Charter of Rights.

• Expedite reforms of the criminal-justice system encompassing the Bermuda Police Service, Her Majesty's Customs, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Department of Public Prosecutions, Corrections and the judicial system.

• Establish performance indicators to measure and improve police performance.

• Commit to a visible Police presence on the streets of Hamilton and in every parish, daytime and nighttime.

• Increase the Police presence in neighbourhoods by restoring the community beat officer programme.

• Open a Police station in Warwick and renovate and re-open the St. George's Police station.

• Introduce legislation requiring the collection of DNA from persons convicted of a crime.

• Enhanced rehabilitation to reduce re-offending.

• Introduce speed cameras.

• Improve the quality of training that police officers receive.

• Reinstate Police consultative community groups and increase support for Crime Stoppers, crime prevention and neighbourhood watch programmes.

• Introduce legislation to ensure better protection of witnesses.

• Reform and modernize the 1907 Criminal Code and remove the rule against double jeopardy in cases of serious crime, when compelling evidence is available.

• Introduce anti-social behaviour orders to diminish the destabilising effect young people can have on neighbourhoods when they engage in anti-social behaviour.