Premier Pamela Gordon revealed yesterday.

For Government is considering using hi-tech video conferencing equipment in the courts to speed up the course of justice.

Ms Gordon said remand prisoners could be beamed into the courts for routine appearances instead of being transported to Hamilton under escort.

She added: "It saves the time of the courts and saves the time of the prison officers. It's a better utilisation of an existing service.'' And Ms Gordon said Government was also looking at new deals for convicts to try and cut the rate of re-offending.

Among ideas being considered is an `adoption' scheme for ex-cons, where a church or other community body would help out on release.

She asked: "Why shouldn't each church adopt one inmate a year and they will give them the foundation to start again.

"They could meet them on release, put them into accommodation if their family doesn't want anything to do with them and help them find work.'' And Ms Gordon added that the community in general should take a more forgiving attitude to people who have paid the price of crime.

She said that ex-prisoners who could not find a job were more likely to re-offend.

Ms Gordon added: "We have to broaden our acceptance of people who have been in prison so they can fit back and get back into our community.'' She was speaking as she and Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess unveiled the results of a brainstorming session involving the Police, the Prison Service, the Attorney General's Chambers, churches and community groups, designed to crack down on crime.

Ms Gordon said priorities identified included cutting crime against both residents and visitors.

She added: "First and foremost we're concerned about the people who live in the Country and our visitors.

"Tourism is a strong economic pillar for Bermuda -- we chase away our visitors, it diminishes our economy.'' And she said a media blitz was planned to ram home the message that crime against tourists hit Bermuda in its pockets.

Other proposals raised in the mini-summit were face-to-face confrontations with victims and criminals in a bid to underline the effects of crime to offenders.

And Mr. Burgess added that punishments could be made to fit the crimes by, for example, men convicted of domestic abuse or rape having to perform community work in shelters for women.

Mr. Burgess said: "You will still get your sentence but a part of your recovery will be an opportunity to come into contact with those you hurt and you will better appreciate the harm you have caused.'' And Commissioner of Police Jean-Jacques Lemay has also suggested a Victim Support Group, similar to those up and running elsewhere, to assist victims' recovery from their ordeals.

Ms Gordon added that prevention was also a priority, and quoted cannabis seizures for the first six months of this year -- more than double that for the same period last year -- while seizures of heroin have also rocketed.

Ms Gordon added that heroin was overtaking cocaine in popularity because it was believed it gave men "a sexual buzz.'' But she said: "What they don't realise that over time it also brings about impotence. These are the kind of things we mean -- not only is it wrong, but you have to stop it because it will damage your health.'' Arrests for drugs for January to June this year total 356 -- well up on the same period last year, when 200-plus were brought to book.