Bermuda's children are growing up with a spirit of fear and death, Senate President Carol Ann Bassett said yesterday.Senator Bassett was speaking after joining Texas-based group Christ For The Nations in counselling sessions with schoolchildren affected by gang violence this week.“Our young people are hurting,” she told the Senate. “There's a spirit of death and fear that is on our young people, from the age of five to 18.“When you hold an 11-year-old in your arms as I did, who says her uncle was one of the ones that got killed this year, the spirit that was coming out of her soul was devastating to me.“We had a young man at CedarBridge that broke down. He was crying and was open to everybody. There was a spirit of hurt and fear and hopelessness because they don't know what's going to happen to them.“The older ones don't know if they are going to be shot. They don't know if their fathers are going to be shot.“They need counselling. They need somebody that can hear their fears. I believe some of this, they lost with us.”She praised Christ For The Nations for its work on its visit to the Island, and urged people to attend a related youth rally at Whitney Institute on Friday and Saturday evenings.Meanwhile Junior National Security Minister Jonathan Smith said he's optimistic police are making a good start getting to grips with crime.Property crime and anti-social behaviour are down while drugs arrests and seizures are up, Senator Smith said during yesterday's Motion to Adjourn.Sen Smith conceded this may be scant consolation to those who have lost loved ones to gang violence, but added: “I think we are starting to see that things are on the right track.”He said the way to get on top of crime is for Government and police to work in partnership through legislation and enforcement.“Through this connection between legislation and enforcement, we are starting to see results,” he said.Earlier in the sitting Sen Smith had delivered a Ministerial Statement saying he's committed to using his experience as Police Commissioner to help Minister Wayne Perinchief bring about safer communities.Sen Smith said a gang task force will bring together all agencies which are involved in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of at-risk members of society.“It is clear that a co-ordinated effort on all ends of these issues is required if we are to arrest the trend of anti-social behaviour and violence in the community,” he said.“The groups in this task force will be organised to compliment their community roles and led by key persons from each area.”A gold level will focus on policies and general oversight; a silver level will be operational and enforcement based; and a bronze level will be community and private sector organisations, said Sen Smith.He continued: “The call for tougher laws has been heeded and the Government has actively considered the means by which to continue to disrupt the rhythm of those whose actions threaten our way of life.”Sen Smith said police officers are being directed to make full use of powers such as the ability to stop and search suspects, while prosecutors now have better tools to present evidence in court; as a combined result dangerous offenders are being convicted and imprisoned.One Bermuda Alliance Senate leader Michael Dunkley noted several Senators had raised different crime-related issues, which highlights the need for a focused plan.“We don't have a strategic plan that bring all these issues together,” said Senator Dunkley.He said Government needs to stop using Band-Aids to heal crime problems, saying police can only do a short-term job.Calling for police, education and the community to unite, he said: “Let's work together for a broad plan that can be successful.”