Crime fell again last year with bike thefts reaching a three-year low, the Police Commissioner revealed yesterday.

However Colin Coxall said he was still concerned about the level of violence in Bermuda.

Mr. Coxall yesterday told a meeting of the Chartered Institute of Bankers that he now had the crime figures for last year.

"They are looking very encouraging indeed. We are looking at a very considerable drop in overall crime,'' said the Commissioner.

Bike thefts alone, said Mr. Coxall, dropped to 1,210 last year compared to 1,918 in 1995 and more than 2,500 in 1994.

But he added: "We still have difficulty with violence and I am very concerned about the level of violence in Bermuda.

"A lot of it is domestic violence. That is not necessarily a problem for the Police Service, but perhaps Bermudian society.'' Mr. Coxall gave the CIB a run-down of what has been achieved in the Service since his arrival as well as future initiatives.

New department heads for technology and human resources had started and a new finance chief is due to start in a couple of weeks.

Scenes of crime officers have been moved to new buildings on the base lands, $450,000 saved in trimming down the Police hierarchy and a "haemorrhaging of money'' from the Service stemmed.

Civilianisation of posts was continuing and 25 Parish Constables were now working their beats.

This year another seven officers will be posted to the narcotics division bringing the total to 24 officers -- double what Mr. Coxall inherited.

"We have radically changed our criminal intelligence in narcotics to target the larger seizures and the larger dealers,'' said Mr. Coxall.

Open days are also being planned for the Scenes of Crime office as well as various Police stations.

Equipment has been upgraded, new boats brought in for the Marine Police and training increased, with two Chief Inspectors about to leave for six months experience in London, added the Commisioner.

National crime prevention and national drug prevention strategies could also be drawn up this year.

Closed circuit television, which is already being used to monitor drug dealers, could also be seen in Hamilton.

The Service was recently inspected by Inspector General of Dependent Territories Lionel Grundy and Mr. Coxall said he was "astounded'' by the progress since his last visit two years ago.

Mr. Grundy's last report -- which led to Mr. Coxall's appointment -- was not made public and it is not known if his latest report will be published, although the Commissioner said yesterday he hopes it will be.

"He has already indicated that he is astounded by the massive move forward of this organisation,'' said Mr. Coxall.