far this year.

Deputy Police Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay disclosed this yesterday at Hamilton Rotary's weekly luncheon.

Of the 346 drug seizures made between January and June, 81 were made in Operation Cleansweep.

Mr. Lemay, who took up his post six months ago, said there were 234 drug arrests made so far this year. Of that number, 30 -- 29 males and one female -- were picked up in Cleansweep.

Overall, 196 males and 38 females have been arrested for drug offences since January 1. In the first half of 1996, there were 238 arrests, with 221 males and 17 females held.

But Mr. Lemay added that even though Operation Cleansweep was a success, it did not eliminate the problem of drugs in Bermuda.

He said drug awareness programmes had to be introduced to students, parents and teachers in order to provide information that would identify and prevent substance abuse.

The community played a major role in the effort to fight crime, he added. And he thanked the general public for its support, citing two recent bank robberies as proof.

"In both cases weapons were recovered within hours and suspects were apprehended,'' he said.

Mr. Lemay said the "shift'' from Police Force to Police Service was important because, "Police Force brings to mind images of crime control, law enforcement, us against them tough guys, while the word service brings to mind customer service''.

He added there will be a focus on victims rather than offender and service of people rather than the law.

"Police must continue to change and evolve with society. Our focus must remain to provide safe homes, safe streets and safe communities.'' He said the way to achieve that goal was to work together.

"The Police, Government and the community cannot do it alone but if we work together we can make a difference.''