Bermuda's code of silence surrounding violent crime helped contribute to the shooting murder of Shaki Crockwell, Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams suggested yesterday.

Mr. Adams became the latest in a string of public figures to condemn victims' and witnesses' reluctance to inform on offenders as he unveiled statistics showing an increase in violent crime this year. The silence culture has also been partially blamed for the failure to convict anyone for Bermuda's previous two shooting murders, Jason Lightbourne last year and Shaundae Jones in 2003.

"Our personnel continue to confront a negative trend of non-cooperation with the Police increasingly prevalent among victims of serious assault," Mr. Adams told a press conference.

"Specifically, following initial attendance to the scene of these events, victims decline to assist Police by providing details of assailants and, when challenged by us, request no further action. Witnesses to the commission of these offences in the majority of instances are equally unhelpful until, as is sometimes the case, they are victims themselves.

"There is on occasion genuine fear on the part of some witnesses to become involved, but in general there is a tendency on the part of most to simply avoid any involvement.

"This behaviour on the part of both victim and witnesses suggests that some segments of the community are prepared to tolerate violent behaviour.

"This seeming tolerance has in the past and again, most recently, contributed to further extremes of violence which have ended in loss of life.

"I would therefore urge the public, whether they are witnesses or victims, to assist the Police when required in the investigation into acts of violence."

Mr. Adams' comments echo Public Safety Minister David Burch's warning last month that the code of silence risked plunging Bermuda into anarchy.

Governor Sir John Vereker, Premier Ewart Brown, Deputy Premier Paula Cox and Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley, as well as Mr. Crockwell's devastated family, are among those who have called for anyone with information to help Police with their investigation.

Calls have also been widely repeated to set up a witness protection programme on the Island, an initiative suggested by Attorney General Philip Perinchief in May.

Officers have interviewed more than 100 people in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Mr. Crockwell, who was shot in the back of the neck on the evening of Friday, August 24, as he walked along the Railway Trail near Loyal Hill, Devonshire.

At yesterday's press conference, Mr. Adams announced 71 violent crimes took place in April, May and June — a rise of nine percent on the same period last year.

A full breakdown of the statistics was not available yesterday, but Mr. Adams revealed some details in his statement. He said grievous bodily harm offences fell by 66 percent and sexual assaults by 47 percent; wounding increased by 53 percent and robbery and attempted robbery by 93 percent; and there were two firearm offences.

Mr. Adams said 55 percent of robberies were in Pembroke, mainly in the City of Hamilton, with offenders taking cash, jewellery, cell phones and motorcycles.

He also pointed to a general failure to recover stolen goods, suggesting that many were being sold on.

Asked about progress on the investigation into leaked documents which sparked the Bermuda Housing Corporation affair, Mr. Adams said: "It is an ongoing investigation."

Anybody with information about Mr. Crockwell's murder should call Police on 299-4239 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.