A diminished supply of drugs on the street is actually causing an increase in violent crime, Police report.

Second quarter crime statistics released yesterday showed a significant increase in woundings.

Police spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett attributed the rise to the illicit drugs trade.

"Our research indicates the majority of these cases are drug related, as opposed to domestic violence related as in previous years,'' she said.

"Narcotic officers have been concentrating recent efforts on interdiction with several significant successes resulting in a diminished supply on the street.'' Woundings in the second quarter more than doubled those seen last year, rising from 13 to 29. Assaults on Police increased from 16 to 20, and robberies jumped from 13 to 21. There were 111 crimes of violence in the second quarter of this year, compared with 74 in the same quarter of 1998.

Violent crimes against visitors also rose 13.9 percent.

Vehicle removals, after two years of declines, soared way above 1996 levels. A total of 360 vehicles were reported stolen in the second quarter with almost half (172) being motorcycles. The number of pedal cycles taken rose by more than one hundred percent.

Mrs. James Barnett noted: "The summer school break usually accounts for the jump in thefts of motor and pedal cycles in particular.

"Police would urge members of the public to consider investing in the highly effective microchip.

"This has proven to be a significant deterrent to cycle thieves and a valuable aid to Police in the recovery of stolen cycles in particular.'' Store breaking more than doubled from 14 to 39 and house breaking jumped from 95 to 112, although the total number of breaking and entering offences was down.

Total thefts also declined with a marked decrease in thefts from unattended vehicles falling from 73 to 50. Mrs. James Barnett pointed out that the public were responsible for the turnaround in this area.

"It appears as though members of the public are finally getting the message to secure their belongings and property,'' she said, "and to exercise vigilance at all times... and they are to be congratulated.'' Eight hundred and ten violent crimes were reported to Police in the second quarter, an increase of 99 more than the same period in 1998.