Politicians last night called for harsher penalties for criminals following the recent surge in gun violence in the community.

Progressive Labour Party backbencher Wayne Perinchief told the House of Assembly that Government should consider reinstituting the death penalty for cases of premeditated murder.

"It may seem harsh, it may seem uncivilised, but I speak about consequences," said the former Police chief. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

He said that in the past, the death penalty had been used poorly, targeting minorities and the poor, but with modern policing technology those problems could be avoided. He also called for greater awareness of the connection between violence and drug use. "We have to make it so that when people toke on that joint, they think about that kid on 42nd street who lost his life."

His comments came during yesterday evening's Motion to Adjourn, when gun violence was the topic on most MPs' lips.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance member Shaun Crockwell also called for harsher penalties, including life sentences without parole for those convicted of murder. He said in the absence of capital punishment it was the ultimate price to pay for taking a life. "We have thugs who are committing violent crimes and they are doing it with impunity."

Mr. Crockwell also suggested that judges should be given power to hold trials without juries in certain cases. "We are having an issue in this country of intimidation. It's a fact that witnesses are reluctant to come forward."

He said he could imagine how easily jurors might feel intimidated or afraid in certain criminal cases. "Some trials should be able to go forward in front of a panel of judges or a judge sitting alone," he said.

"We are living in difficult times and we want to have a criminal justice system that's going to be effective."

Opposition MP John Barritt criticised the concept of giving Government direct control of Bermuda Police Service, as repeatedly requested by Premier Ewart Brown.

"What we don't want and there's good reason for it, is for direct political influence," he said. "If you have too much control, the temptation is just too great. What you don't want when you hire your top man, you don't want them to be under the influence of anything other then what is in the best interest of the Police. We have to be on guard. This is what has happened in other districts."

But Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess claimed Government did not want operational control of the Police, though he said it was dissatisfied with the way crime was being tackled. "We want the job done," said Mr. Burgess. "If the way things are going now or have gone and the Government didn't say anything, the Premier didn't say anything, the deputy didn't say anything, they would accuse us of being silent."

He suggested that the Governor ought to have a committee or council of former high-ranking police officers to advise him on crime. Mr. Burgess urged the country to stop wasting time by playing the blame game.

Government backbencher Walter Lister compared Mr. Barritt's argument against Government control of the Police to denying Bermudian police officers the position of sergeant in the past.

Energy Minister Michael Scott insisted that nobody in Government wanted to remove the independence of the Police. "We don't seek to take over the Police to the extent of removing their independence," he said.

"We need a forceful, sensible, directed strategy flowing from the people who the people look to for direction."

Deputy Opposition leader Trevor Moniz said a large portion of the crime problem could be attributed to inadequate funding of the Police, for which Government is responsible. "They control the purse strings," he said. "The Premier is using this as a political football. When you use the Police as a political football, you corrupt the confidence in the Police."

Acting Premier Paula Cox closed the debate, saying that legislation was not a magic bullet, but a weapon in the armoury to combat violence. She said the number one priority was education, followed by jobs and opportunity. "If we really want to turn the page and enter 2010 with the right spirit, that is what we need in the crucible."