With serious crimes on the rise, The Royal Gazette went out to see if the people of Bermuda felt safe.

Figures released on Tuesday, showed that crime had increased by 18 percent in the last three months with murders, firearms incidents and serious assaults all up compared to the first nine months of last year.

Yesterday, Terai Wilson said: "I feel safe enough. I know the bullets ain't directed at me."

But Terita Flood said she didn't feel safe. "No, because I have a son who's six and bringing him up will be kind of hard. I know it's crime all over the world but in Bermuda it's more risky. I'm trying to leave in a year's time."

One expatriate, who did not want to be named, said he did feel safe and has ever since he moved here 14 years ago. "I've never felt unsafe living in Bermuda."

And Allison Hansford-Smith said: "I think at home I feel safe. I think in general, people are just starting to feel the community isn't safe."

Morgan Lightbourne said: "In certain places I feel safe. Well you know where the guns are violence is going to be, so I don't go there."

Another man, who didn't want to be named, said: "An increase of crime doesn't equal feeling safe because it's the opposite. It's the opposite of what God wanted. I feel safe because I take care of myself. I am just more aware of what my neighbours do now."

Meesha Grant said she doesn't feel safe with the increased crime. "It's sad. Where are the guns coming from? When I was in school, they had guns stolen from the Regiment and they haven't found those yet. It's not safe. It's not safe at all. I hear gunshots all the time. Anybody can get hit."