Crime is increasingly the biggest concern of Bermuda residents, following a spate of shootings and violence this summer.

Twenty-nine percent of voters — up from 21 percent — said crime was the number one issue facing the Island, in a poll at the end of June by Research.bm.

The survey was carried out about a month after a series of shootings in the 'back of town' area, one of which claimed the life of Kenwandee Robinson in St. Monica's Road, Pembroke, two months ago.

It came amid reports of Bermuda's growing gang problem, with about 350 people said to be involved in 17 gangs boosted by an infiltration of sophisticated members from the United States.

And gang trouble had started to creep into new sections of the community, with a Bermuda High School after-prom party erupting in bloody mayhem at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in late May.

Premier Ewart Brown announced last week that new anti-gang legislation would arrive in the next Parliamentary session.

Meanwhile, disillusionment with Dr. Brown has now reached such a height that 'Poor Government Leadership/Government Corruption' is the second most serious issue troubling people on the Island.

That topic has never appeared in Research.bm's results before — and it wasn't even an option for voters to pick during the telephone poll.

However, so many people named it as their main worry — ignoring all other options such as the economy — that pollsters included it in their results, with a final score of 15 percent.

On Friday The Royal Gazette reported how Dr. Brown's popularity rating is currently the lowest of any Premier since this newspaper's polling began five years ago. In recent weeks, he has faced three demonstrations against his leadership style and calls for his resignation from his own Ministers and backbenchers.

The economy was voted the third biggest issue facing the Island, followed by housing, racism, education, Independence and tourism.

Reflecting on the poll results, Progressive Labour Party spokesman Wentworth Christopher said: "Bermudians are concerned with crime. We see it in online discussions on Facebook and we see it in this poll. I'm pleased that the PLP Government is working toward tough gang legislation. We will continue to address the issue of public safety when Parliament reconvenes."

In the House of Assembly last week, Dr. Brown said new measures introduced in Bermuda could include making it a criminal offence to be a gang member; and encouraging Police to use tactics which intentionally disrupt the rhythm of gangs.

Many MPs from both sides of the House spoke at length on Bermuda's gang issues, with United Bermuda Party MPShawn Crockwell alleging crates of guns are dropped into the Island's waters to be collected and that Police are living in fear of troublemakers.The telephone poll of 402 people was carried out on June 24 to 27 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent. The previous poll took place in May.