Although he did not reveal a definitive plan, Assistant Police Commissioner Carlton Adams yesterday said the Bermuda Police plans to stem the disruptive behaviour which has been cropping up over the Island recently.

Mr. Adams and other high-ranking Police officials held a press conference late yesterday afternoon following ugly scenes on Court Street on Tuesday night which resulted in the area to being blocked off by dozens of bystanders.

According to reports, tensions rose between men believed to frequent the Court Street and St. Monica's Mission (42nd Street) areas.

Along with a car parked on the street being damaged, two men were subsequently arrested, one of whom for suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

"We intend to stop this behaviour. It will take time but we will apply ourselves," Mr. Adams said.

"We will not tolerate this continued behaviour of weapons being waved around in the streets."

Responding to claims by some Court Street residents that Police left the scene too early, Mr. Adams said that when they arrived at around 3.30 p.m., Police were not initially aware of the disturbance. When they received a second call, he said, a fight between two men was reported.

"We have learned that the altercation arose out of an altercation one month ago," he said.

While he refuted claims that the fight was gang-related, Mr. Adams conceded the men were from different neighbourhoods, although he did not say which ones.

And he dismissed suggestions that the fighting was between gangs which were traditionally seen as allies.

"These individuals tend to join alliances and dissolve them just as quickly whether it be over girls, drugs, or oversized egos," Mr. Adams said.

When asked how Police intended to quell the negative behaviour displayed lately, Mr. Adams said it meant placing Police presence wherever needed immediate attention.

Head of Police intelligence, Superintendent Roseanda Jones, denied that the majority of disruptive behaviour occurred on Court Street.

"I beg to differ - we are having problems with areas all over the Island.

"When it comes to people settling their differences with each other, the Police cannot do anything until they know about it."

She also urged members of the community not to take matters into their own hands.

"If they are victims of crime, let the Police take care of it. We are doing all we can to get this offensive weapons off the streets."

Government accused of being "soft on crime". See Story on Page 5