The bad news: Violent crimes rise, presumably committed by desperate drug dealers and users.

It's not easy fighting the so-called war on drugs. Police crime statistics for the last three months report that drug interdictions have resulted in a marked reduction in the amount of drugs available for sale. That's good, because fewer drugs on the streets means that fewer people have access to dangerous drugs.

But that achievement has a side effect -- a rise in other types of crimes, especially violent ones.

This means the Police are doing their job by reducing supply and also preventing users from stealing.

But the "war on drugs'' cannot be won simply by reducing supply. The second front in the war is reducing demand. The National Drugs Commission is beginning to get to grips with some of the problems, but all those involved in treating addicts say that they are hampered by lack of resources.

If Bermuda wants to reduce drug abuse and other crimes at the same time, it needs to devote more resources to public awareness, drugs rehabilitation and the other support systems needed to keep recovering addicts clean.

THE RIGHT IDEA EDT The right idea Tourism Minister David Allen, who has taken a fair amount of criticism in recent months, will have had a better day yesterday with the news that Canadian Pacific has decided to invest up to $40 million in improving the Southampton Princess.

The hotel, which remains the Island's flagship property in spite of its age, needs upgrading. As CP has said, the hotel has been well maintained over the years, but does not have all the amenities which top hotels around the world now enjoy.

The plan to add an "exclusive club'', "providing five-star service in a four-star hotel'' will help Bermuda attract the kind of wealthy individuals who once flocked to the Island but are now increasingly rare. This plan will enable the hotel to provide the kind of service that its high rates demand.

For Mr. Allen, whose struggles to attract a new property to the Island continue, this will be welcome. While a new hotel which set the pace for the existing properties remains a priority, reinvestment in the Island's existing hotels, as both Princess hotels are doing and as Elbow Beach has already done, is just as important.

These kinds of improvements give visitors more choices -- and should also result in better service. That in turn should bring more visitors to the Island, and once here, they should want to stay longer. That is the solution to Bermuda's tourism problems.