Gang retaliation has led to an increase in crimes against people according to new statistics released by Police today.

The second quarter crime statistics are based on a new reporting system which covers 437 offences. Only 66 offences were covered under the old system.

The 437 offences have been whittled down to six key crime headings: crimes against people, crimes against property, crimes against the community, drug enforcement activity, traffic collisions and traffic enforcement activity.

Crimes against people were down three percent between April and June compared to the same quarter last year.

Despite that, the period saw the second highest number of such crimes recorded in any quarter over the last four years, with 250 incidences.

The only other quarter to see more than 225 of these offences was April-June last year. The Police now classify murder, manslaughter, serious assault, other assault, sexual assault, robbery, offences against children and indecency as crimes against people. Assistant Commissioner Mike Jackman said the increase in this type of crime "can be attributed to the retaliatory assaults between gangs which has led to a significant increase in other assault; serious assaults were also up."

Crimes against the community include possession of firearms and other weapons as well as anti-social behaviour and animal offences. Between April and June of this year there were more crimes against the community than any three-month period in the previous four years.

Bermuda saw 246 of these offences in the second quarter, up 41 percent compared to the same period in 2008. Meanwhile there were 186 drug-related offences, which includes possession and importation, during the period a 40 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Only four other quarters in the last four years have exceeded this year's number.

Crimes against property, which include burglaries at residents, tourist accommodations and non-residential buildings, criminal damage, motor vehicle theft, theft of property, fraud and deception, have decreased 14 percent. The most recent statistics revealed there were 150 less crimes reported in this category, compared to the second quarter in 2008. In total there were 884 of these crimes during the period. Traffic collisions were down seven percent this quarter, with 559 vehicles involved in collisions. This was the second lowest figure recorded for a three-month period in four years.

There were also 12,876 traffic offences, such as impaired driving, marine offences and parking offences, between April and June, statistics on the previous quarters were not provided.

Speaking of the new methodology Deputy Commissioner Michael DeSilva said: "When the new method for crime statistics is used, crime is shown as increasing over the past four years.

"When the old method for crime statistics is used, crime is shown as decreasing over the past four years. "The way the BPS [Bermuda Police Service] now produces its crime statistics is more objective, open, and transparent and includes all crime. This enables the BPS to make better informed decisions on the types of crime that threatens the safety of the community and enables the BPS to communicate with and reassure communities in Bermuda."

Mr. Jackman added: "The BPS continues to proactively address crime and we have been receiving positive feedback on our anti-crime efforts."