City rangers with powers of arrest could soon be helping Police to combat crime and anti-social behaviour in the capital if a Corporation of Hamilton plan gets off the ground.

The municipality is looking at ways to revive a scheme launched several years ago which had to be dropped because the rangers had no authority to enforce the law.

Ed Benevides, the Corporation's chief operating officer, told The Royal Gazette he was investigating whether city rangers could be "sworn in" like Police officers, allowing them to apprehend and detain suspects.

"We are still interested somewhat in getting our city ranger programme restarted," he said yesterday. "We had it but it had to be disbanded because they had no power to arrest or enforce the law. I'm seeking another avenue. If they can get authority through another avenue, then we are interested in bringing that back in."

Mr. Benevides said uniformed rangers could be employed to deal with anyone acting illegally or displaying anti-social behaviour by approaching and detaining them until Police arrive.

"It helps people to know that we have people in appropriate dress around the city," he said.

Cities and towns in the UK have rangers — usually known as community wardens — who work in partnership with Police, local authorities and other agencies to promote safety, provide reassurance and act as a crime deterrent. They often deal with relatively minor offences such as graffiti, litter or dumping garbage illegally.

Rangers' powers here could include dealing with anything that overstretched Police officers would struggle to respond to such as: vagrants causing a problem, businesses disregarding garbage ordinances by putting out trash on the wrong day and blocking pavements, or even motorists running a red light.

The rangers proposal was put back on the table due to concerns that a shortage of Police officers Island-wide was meaning too few on the streets of Hamilton.

Corporation members passed a resolution last November to approach the Bermuda Police Service to see if the municipality itself could hire extra Police officers or reserves, to "provide additional security and assist in related matters".

Mr. Benevides said he started negotiations with the Police but things changed because the force got back up to strength and launched several crime-fighting initiatives including community action officers.

"We have progressed considerably since November with the Police and they are coming to talk with the board and explain the new programmes," he said.

"We'll probably be meeting once a month with the Police just in an effort to see what we can do to help. We have an extremely good relationship with them.

"If the Police are able to get to 100 percent capacity and be able to do programmes, that could negate the need for [rangers]. Right now, it's been obvious that they were working understaffed and unable to do the types of things in the city to keep certain behaviours in check."

He said he understood that last time around the Corporation got as far as employing some former Police officers as rangers but it never went any further.

"I know what's stopping it and I think we have got a good chance of making some progress," he said. "It's something we are doing to try to underpin the efforts of the Police."

* Do you think Hamilton needs city rangers? E-mail news@royalgazette.bm