criminals and this is the main reason why violent crime is down, a Government Minister said.

But this view was not shared by the Opposition PLP, who characterised the recently-released crime figures as vindication of their view that it was only the selective reporting of crime statistics during former Commissioner Colin Coxall's time that made it look as though crime generally was down.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness said that he was pleased overall that violent crime was down.

"It is unfortunate about the breaking and entering and the burglary,'' he said.

Mr. Edness said that the most recent figures, which cover 1997, and compared it to years 1994 through 1996, should be looked at from the point of view of the overall assault that the Bermuda Police Service was causing on crime.

He said that much of the housebreaking, attempted break and entering and burglaries were the work of known felons who have a strong tendency to re-offend whenever they are released from jail.

Nevertheless, Mr. Edness said that it was important for the public to continue to support the Police with information on crime so that it can be tackled.

Meanwhile, Shadow Public Safety Minister Alex Scott said that his reading of the newest crime statistics reinforced his view that the decrease in crime was due more to Mr. Coxall's methodology than reality.

"There was considerable publicity that crime was down and falling under Mr.

Coxall,'' Mr. Scott said. "But these most recent figures show increases in 1997 (over 1996) in crimes such as thefts and breaking and entering offences.'' Mr. Scott said that the most important factor now for the Island was to support the Police as officers went about their duties.

"We in the PLP are of the opinion that you are going to see genuine decreases in violent crimes because there is a clear strategy on crime throught the existence of the Task Force.

"The public should feel confident that they can call the Police and expect a quick response and criminals will understand that they can and will be caught in criminal activity and prosecuted.'' CRIME CRM