Police announced a raft of new initiatives to calm fears over rising sex crime on the eve of yesterday's women's march against violence.

New Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith said sex cases in the first quarter of the year had risen compared with 2000.

He said: "The Bermuda Police shares the concern that has been expressed.

"Any form of violence, whether it be targeted violence against a particular segment of the community or overall criminal violence should be seen as unacceptable and intolerable.

The Police response included: New training for investigators A tourist crime action team Training for officers on sex abuse Support for victims of sex crime and their families.

Mr. Smith said a total of 11 cases of sexual assaults and/or sexual exploitation had been recorded in the first three months of 2001.

One case is set to go before the Supreme Court, four are due to go to Magistrates' Court.

In the other cases he said that two arrests had been made and those cases were still under investigation. Active investigations are being done in one case where the suspect was known and three cases were still open and under investigation.

He pointed out that some recent high profile cases of reported sexual assaults had been withdrawn by the complainants before they got to court or had been shot down in court.

Mr. Smith said: "Reported cases of sexual assault do show an increase for the first three months of 2001 for the comparable three-month period of 2000.

"However this year's figures are still less than four of the previous six years.

"We are encouraged by our detection rate so far this year and we have every confidence it will continue.'' Mr. Smith said he had met with the Physical Abuse Centre to discuss how to improve training of officers on this issue.

"We will continue our well developed relationship with both the Physical Abuse Centre and the Women's Resource Centre.'' A tourist crime action team headed by Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams will be given free range to improve hotel security and curb handbag snatchers.

Mr. Smith said a partnership would be set up with the Department of Tourism, the Bermuda Hotel Association and the Police Crime Prevention team.

Mr. Adams said there had been 14 handbag snatches in the Hamilton city area in the first three months of the year and that a heavy police presence had got results with four arrests.

He said one suspect was before the courts for handbag snatching and was awaiting sentence in the Supreme Court.

There have been a further three snatches since the end of March with the latest one on Tuesday night in the Pitts Bay Road area, said Mr. Adams.

He said: "An off duty officer witnessed it and chased the suspect to an area near Belco.

"We recovered a vehicle which we believe was used in that offence and as a result inquiries are going on with a view to apprehending the person responsible.'' Deputy Commissioner George Jackson announced new measures for specialist investigative training.

He said: "We have enhanced our training by sending officers to the UK and Canada for specialised training.

"Locally we have recently conducted a child sexual abuse training course and in June we'll be running a similar course for senior investigators dealing with other aspects of child sexual abuse and female sexual offences which involve senior victims.'' Superintendent Gertrude Barker said: "I applaud the people organising this march.'' She said family liaison officers will work with families of victims throughout inquiries to keep them informed.

Sex crime crackdown And she said a victim support scheme would be set up involving both the Police and members of the public.

"We will put that on the front burner.'' Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox also voiced support for the women's march.

She said: "The clear message is that violence and other forms of criminal activity will not be tolerated. They must cease forthwith.

"We are getting legislation on board which is much more relevant for today's society.'' She mentioned sex offenders would be tagged to monitor and track them and that before being released they would be given a psychological assessment.