Calls for a greater Police presence in North Hamilton in the wake of a drive-by shooting were made last night — by politicians from both sides of the fence.

PLP MP Ashfield DeVent said Monday night's attack, which left 22-year-old Prince Barrington Edness in hospital with an injured leg, was no surprise and urged Police to return to the area to crack down on crime.

Meanwhile, Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said manpower levels within the Bermuda Police Service needed to be upped to ensure officers could get out on the streets where they were needed.

The pair spoke out as Police revealed that no arrests had yet been made in connection with the incident on Princess Street, which is believed to be gang-related.

Mr. Edness, from Pembroke, was left walking wounded after a gunman on a motorcycle fired four shots at him; he was treated at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and has now been discharged.

Mr. DeVent, whose Pembroke South East constituency includes the Princess Street area, told The Royal Gazette the incident was "not a surprise to me at all" because crime had been allowed to escalate in the area.

"Residents in this general area are basically feeling that nobody does care about their lives," he said. "At this point I think many of them have given up on the Police."

The Government backbencher, who moved out of the area himself due to persistent illegal activity close to his property, stressed that he was not criticising the Police.

"I know when I have spoken on this before I have made bad friends with the Police and that's not my intention," he said. "When the Police are there they do a great job but I think they are not there enough."

Mr. DeVent said an initiative launched in 2006 involving a highly visible Police presence began to have an impact — but then the officers disappeared.

"Some residents are actually living under fear from young boys who have threatened them," he said, adding that those indulging in crime felt immune from the law. "They just don't care," he said.

Senator Dunkley said the shooting was a serious matter and highlighted the need for more officers on the Island.

"I'm not blaming the Police because they can only work with the manpower they have," he said.

"The answer is to get the manpower levels up to the correct level. We have talked about this for too long.

"I urge the Government to bring people on board who have the experience to be effective Police officers. Policing is not an easy job."

Monday night's shooting is thought to be the latest episode of violence between the so-called 42nd Street and Parkside gangs.

Community members said yesterday they wanted tough action taken with youths who get involved in gangs. Norine Douglas told this newspaper she would pack wayward youngsters off to a real war zone in Iraq.

"I've had enough of these wannabe gangsters," she said. "It's time to put a stop to all this. It's time for all of us to pull together and get busy taking back our Bermuda — it doesn't belong to these creatures."

She added: "They need to be in a real war with explosives and bullets coming from all directions and see real pain, destruction and death in those circumstances and see if they want Bermuda to come to that."

Daniella Marie Maisonneuve-Adams created a new group yesterday on social Internet site Facebook called "Bermudians for Mandatory Curfew" which had attracted 14 members by last night.

Those who joined believe "Government needs to review the times that our youth should be allowed out".

Member Della Greenslade wrote on the group page: "I believe this would be a move in the right direction as far as getting some control over the current situation here." * We want to hear your views on gang violence and how to stop it. E-mail news@royalgazette.bm.