Police and the Tourism Department are working closely together to stamp out crime against visitors, the Tourism Minister says.

The Hon. David Dodwell said he had spoken as recently as this week with Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall about crime and its impact on the tourism industry.

"The Commissioner is acutely aware of the situation as it affects our visitors,'' Mr. Dodwell said.

He added that Police were quick to respond to the mugging/stabbing of a visitor on Richmond Road last week by quickly deploying a team to investigate.

Police are also working closely with hotels to highlight security issues and how best to protect their properties with room security and motion lighting.

A series of seminars this month brought together hotels, Police and security firms to work out solutions to hotels' security problems.

"Things have improved,'' Mr. Dodwell declared. "My gut feeling is that we're more prepared and far more organised as far as the hospitality industry goes.'' The role of the Tourism Department was to act as "facilitators'' between the Police and hotels, he said. Tourism also produces a flyer that is displayed in all hotel rooms reminding guests to lock doors and not leave possessions unattended.

However, golf pro and former UBP candidate Mr. Kim Swan yesterday called for stronger measures to inject the community with a sense of responsibility for Bermuda's rising crime problem and its impact on tourism.

And he called on Government to create a "national day against crime'' by urging Bermudians to "join hands'' to put a stop to crime.

"Lord Waddington should stand in Dockyard and the Premier in St. George's and each MP in every constituency they represent,'' he said. "On that day we ask all Bermudians against crime to join hands across the country to symbolise our commitment to put a stop to crime.'' While attacks on visitors were "unthinkable'' 15 years ago, they now risked becoming commonplace, Mr. Swan warned. He said Bermudians should consider the "worst case scenario'' by considering that in "five or six years time'' not only visitors but international business could be looking for a more secure environment to live.

"It's our problem,'' he said. "We have to say we're not going to tolerate it anymore. If we allow it to continue we'll be prisoners in our own homes.'' Mr. Swan pointed out it was not the job of the Police Service alone to combat crime. Families and households also had to look within themselves to root out crime.

"Criminals have to live with someone,'' Mr. Swan said. "They have to talk to someone.

"We need a serious wake-up call. We can't just rely on Mr. Coxall. Bermuda needs to solve its own problems. We're the ones who made the crime and we need to solve it.'' He said the erosion of Bermuda's open spaces was also to blame. As the Island became more congested, Bermudians behaved more and more like "urbanites''.

Once "the friendliest people in the world'', now, he said, Bermuda's best commodity, the "Bermuda smile'' was fast becoming replaced by a scowl.

As the owner of a private company that organises winter golf holidays and having worked in the tourism industry all his life, Mr. Swan said he was keenly aware of the changes that have taken place in Bermuda over the past ten years and the toll they have taken on the Bermuda lifestyle.