Deputy Mayor of Hamilton Glenn Smith has warned criminals: "If you're looking for trouble stay out of Hamilton."

He was addressing a forum on crime hosted by the Bermuda Democratic Alliance at St Andrew's church hall in the city last Thursday.

He outlined several initiatives the Corporation is working on to address the issue. These include five city rangers to assist the Police in patrolling the streets. Mr. Smith hopes they will be granted powers of arrest.

Signs will be posted throughout the city to warn of increased penalty zones such as near schools and churches where crimes such as drug dealing attract stiffer sentences.

Mr. Smith spoke of plans to double the number of CCTV cameras across the city, and put up signs warning would-be criminals about those too. He explained that the current cameras are monitored by a private firm during the day at the Police communications and operations centre. They hand over to Comm Ops staff during quieter periods.

He said new x-ray technology will be in place by the end of December to scan every truck and container at the docks for contraband.

He also revealed that there have been no incidents at a former crime hot spot, the Bulls Head car park, since an evening shuttle service was launched in September to take people back to their cars safely. The Corporation also hired new security guards and put up fencing.

The meeting, which attracted around 20 members of the public, also heard presentations from security and risk management consultant Jeff Baron and John Drew of Crime Stoppers Bermuda.