growing up.

Too many parents are beating up on their children or hitting each other in front of them, according to a number people interviewed this week during a lunchtime poll in Hamilton by The Royal Gazette .

Many also felt Police were not taking an active enough role in protecting women against being battered by boyfriends or husbands.

Nearly everyone spoken to, including men, said domestic abuse of women was more visible.

And they agreed with Police and women's groups that the attacks were getting more vicious.

"Violent mothers create violent children which causes violent men,'' 21-year-old Mr. Barclay Smith said.

And Mrs. E. Thomas, 55, said: "I think (domestic violence) stems from generation to generation. Sons see fathers hitting their mothers and they think it's part of being a man.'' Agreeing, Mrs. H.S. Aitken, 44, said: "Fathers are abusive and the sons pick it up. Alcohol has a lot to do with it also.'' Mrs. Aitken felt residents were turning a blind eye to domestic violence. And while the police did not want to get involved, she said, they should because they could help prevent it.

Most people interviewed were worried there was an upsurge in domestic violence against women and believed alcohol and drugs were the culprits.

However, a few did not agree.

According to Ms Debbie Harris, who has a teenaged daughter: "I wouldn't say that violence against women was increasing. These days women are becoming more violent.'' And Mr. Chauncey Smith said: "Today it's just more open. Before, guys would wait until they got home before beating their girlfriend or wife up. Now they do it anywhere.'' The 22-year-old added: "Women initiate a lot of fights. They see how far they can push you before they get a slap.'' He said Police should follow up on domestic violence cases they attend: "Police need to do more than just go to the people's house when they're called because of a fight. They need to go back later and check to see if everything is still okay.'' Mr. Smith felt drugs played a part in the violence because, "when guys are on them, instead of thinking about hitting a woman, they just do it''.

Ms Harris said drugs played a "definite role'' in attacks against women.

"There are more 15 and 16-year-old boys sitting on the streets where drugs are sold,'' she commented.

She added the community was not taking violence against women seriously enough. "The Government needs to bring the cat-o'-nine-tails back and beat these men,'' she suggested.

Mrs. Janette LeNoury, 39, attributed the problem to Bermuda having "the highest illegitimacy level in the world''.

"There is not a lot of parental influence with children,'' she said, adding, "Unemployment and the recession cause men to take out their aggression and frustration on the people closest to them.

Mrs. LeNoury felt court penalties for those convicted of domestic violence crimes were not high enough.

"Domestic violence is not treated seriously because a lot of it is hidden due to the fact that women don't want to admit that the person they love and thinks loves them is hitting them,'' she said.

She believed drug use played a part in causing domestic spats, but not a large one.

Miss Sarah Haycock also did not think judges were handing down harsh enough punishments against men who hit women. The 21-year-old believed reasons for the increase in domestic violence were drugs, alcohol and television.

Mrs. Antoinette Hollis, a 28-year-old mother, was also concerned about family violence. "I believe that drugs do play a part in the violence and that the community needs to take it more seriously.'' Mrs. Thelma Lovell and Mrs. Charlette Gomes believed men were going "crazy''.

Mrs. Lovell said: "Once men would hit you lightly, now they are using all these weapons.'' A few men also had something to say about abuse against women.

Mr. Barclay Smith further said: "Domestic violence is both increasing in number and profile. It is more exposed. Women are reporting it more and it is more recognised now.

"I am concerned about it because I have a sister and female friends.'' Mr.

Eugene Webb, Jr., however, did not think violence against women was on the rise.

"I am concerned about it, but women are fighting back,'' the 22-year-old said. "I feel that women should be more reliant on themselves instead of on men. If women want to be treated as equals they should act as equals and pull their own weight.'' He added: "I think that sex, feelings and partners messing around with others is one of the problems.

Mr. Lionel Cann, 50, said: "The solution to the problem begins with how we educate our children on how to respect one another.'' And 42-year-old father Mr. R. Wilson also felt Government should bring back the cat-o'-nine-tails. "I am concerned about what happens for the sake of my daughter and grandchildren,'' he said.

A 50-year-old woman who did not want to give her name, said: "It seems that no matter what you try or what you do when a man gets angry, then he's angry.'' Mr. Chauncey Smith Mrs. Thelma Lovell Mrs. Charlette Gomes Mr. Eugene Webb Jr. Mrs. Antoinette Hollis Ms. Debbie Harris.