People want action on the soon-to-be-written criminal justice system review report, chairman of the review panel British Judge Stephen Tumim said yesterday.

And he predicted Government will act "substantively'' on the report which is expected to be ready before the end of September.

Speaking at his last press conference on the review, which was completed this week, Judge Tumim said the seven-member review panel "had a great deal of help'' from the recently held forum on "Justice and The Prisons: Have We Got It Right?''.

"I got the feeling that people really do want action to take place on the report,'' he said, adding that the forum showed "a lot of people care'' although there was "a general feeling of anger that there has been report after report, but very little action to bring the criminal justice system up to date''.

Judge Tumim stressed the report will be a "sign-post suggesting the ways in which Government may want to move'' rather than an "encyclopaedia''.

But, he said without revealing any formal recommendations, two things Bermuda should consider are: A criminal justice system in which there is better understanding among those working in different aspects of the system; and Community service as an alternative to the final avenue of locking up people, particularly youngsters.

"Community services must play a larger part in dealing with the young offender who tends to be pushed into prison too easily,'' he said. "I think we're in danger of alienating a large portion of our young people.'' He said Bermuda must first deal with punishments to fit the crime. And, after visiting the courts, he said more consideration needs to be given to the offenders' "means'' before fines are fixed.

He also questioned the effectiveness of long periods of consecutive disqualification for traffic offenders.

Judge Tumim said he and the panel will "closely follow the progress of this report'', adding he would like to see it made public, but this was up to the Premier.