Governor Sir Richard Gozney admitted last night that crime levels are too high and public confidence in the Police too low after new statistics revealed that violence offences are on the increase.

Violent crime went up by almost ten percent in 2008, with higher incidences of firearms and robbery offences than the previous year, according to figures released at a press conference on Tuesday.

The number of cases involving sexual exploitation of young people also doubled from six to 12. Public confidence in the Police stood at 49 percent.

Sir Richard told The Royal Gazette: "The statistics show an increase in too many types of crime over the past year or so, increasing the workload on the Police service.

"Despite the increasing crime, the Police service has done well in a number of areas, especially charging to court those suspected of the most serious crimes of violence, intercepting drugs and gathering the evidence needed to convict a local money launderer.

"As Assistant Commissioner [Mike] Jackman brought out at the press conference, crime levels are too high and public confidence in the Police service is too low. The Bermuda Police Service is acutely aware of the need to reverse this picture and I am confident that they are treating their task very seriously indeed."

Shadow Labour and Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley, meanwhile, urged Government and Police to put their pay row behind them and concentrate on tackling the growing violence.

On Tuesday, the Bermuda Police Association won a pensions award at a judicial review — potentially drawing to a close a wrangle which has been ongoing with Government for years.

Labour and Public Safety Minister David Burch yesterday refused to say whether Justice Ian Kawaley's judgment would be appealed, but his Ministry said there would be an announcement on the matter this morning. The Minister also refused to comment on the 2008 crime figures.

Sen. Dunkley told this newspaper: "We are pleased that we seem to be getting further along the road to progress. As Police are aware, this thing has dragged on for some time. It's been a long history of delayed negotiations.

"We hope that we are closer to a resolution although there is still the opportunity for appeal.

"Everyone in the community is well aware of how vital the Police service is to the future well-being of the Island, especially with the violent crime figures which have just been released.

"I would like to urge the Government and the Governor to resolve the issue; we need them focused on taking back our streets.

"Police need to do that without having to argue about their pay packages."

Justice Kawaley upheld a previous ruling that ten percent of their pay — called the 'Combined Allowance' and previously unpensionable — should now be treated as a full part of their salary.

BPA, which has about 400 members, claimed that the Combined Allowance has effectively been part of their salary since it was introduced as a fixed monthly amount in 1990.

Government, which was challenging last June's Permanent Police Tribunal ruling, had countered this would cost an extra $6.4 million owed to officers dating back to 2005, and nearly $800,000 a year from now — cash it said it could not afford.