THE island must take a zero-tolerance approach to crime against visitors if the already ailing hospitality industry is to ever rally, the Bermuda Alliance for Tourism said in its hard-hitting report on Crime in Bermuda.

Recommending a 12-point programme to counter the recent surge in crimes against visitors, the BAT report warns that the increasingly brutal nature of crime in Bermuda should be a cause of major concern in the community ? left unchecked violent crime could have severe long-term ramifications for both the economy and Bermuda's social fabric.

BAT is a recently formed joint venture between Government and hospitality industry stakeholders and is intended to serve as a liaison between the public and private sectors. Executive director Wayne Smith compiled the crime report which has been submitted to Government House, the Cabinet Office and the Police Commissioner. Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown last night gave a qualified endorsement to the report's findings.

"I am on the road but I have had a first read of the document," he said. "In general I share the concern of BAT and everyone else who wants to eradicate the criminal impact on Tourism. The police have responded with the formation of the Tourism Unit and I welcome that initiative.

"However, I suspect that the effort will have to extend into the general population, where every Bermudian will have to consider himself/herself a 'crimestopper'."

Dr. Brown said he would have more to say on the BAT report in coming weeks once he had time to study and assess its findings in full. "The level of crime in Bermuda is viewed by tourism industry leaders as unacceptable, as a threat to the regeneration of our industry and as a trend that must be curbed," said the report. "A decrease in a crime or crimes does not suggest that the situation is better. The problem is not the number of crimes; one incident is too many and Bermuda must take a stand of zero tolerance.

"This situation is critical and threatens the safety of residents and visitors. We must do something about this now. If left unchecked, crime will increase, violent crimes will continue to be committed and crime will be a major contributing factor to the demise of this country. Bermuda will be a far less attractive destination for business, international business, tourism and even as a place to reside."

Night club operators surveyed by BAT felt that there was no specific trend of crimes involving visitors. Most of the crimes committed in and around their premises were committed against local residents. The night club operators indicated that their main criminal issues were fights and altercations. "However, there has been an increase in the amount of vagrant harassment to night club patrons by people who physically and verbally intimidate people into giving them handouts," said the report.

"Club owners have also observed that criminals wait outside clubs to target people who have been drinking, as they are not in full control of their faculties and are vulnerable.

"Club operations also perceive a continued lack of police presence in the City of Hamilton and around their establishments. They have lamented what they perceive as a lack of police patrolling the community. As a group they all acknowledge that the Police Support Unit provides prompt assistance to remove unruly patrons. Phil Barnett, Head of the Chamber of Commerce's Restaurant and Nightclub Division, shared the following sentiment on the subject of crime: 'We need to DEMAND increased policing and a Rudy Giuliani style of leadership and policing. Our Police Service must consistently and unwaveringly apply the laws as written (i.e. No begging; No drinking in public; No graffiti; No loud motorcycles; No dangerous driving; No speeding; No drug dealing openly ? see Cambridge Road and what guests at Cambridge Beaches must endure). If we don't have the budget to do this, find the money ? I would gladly see $2 million of the Tourism budget go to this type of initiative as I believe it would be money well spent on promoting Tourism."

BAT said comments like Mr. Barnett's suggested the community had little faith in the Bermuda Police Service's ability to fight crime and indicated the community as a whole must assist and support the Police Service so that it would be more effective.

"Most of the stakeholders and individuals questioned felt that the state of crime in Bermuda is outrageous and getting out of hand. One person suggested that Bermuda was entering a vigilante era," said the report.

"There is concern about the number of high-profile cases in our recent and distant past, which folded in court because witnesses didn't want to testify. One individual commented that most people are sitting back and watching because we have not reached the stage where innocent persons are being affected or targeted. However, once innocent people start being targeted, more people will start to speak out and/or take action. The respondent noted that Bermuda was not far away from this happening.

"Another respondent stated that the solution starts in the home and pointed to absent parents (working two and three jobs to survive) which left children unattended or idle; left to do whatever they wish to do. The individual intimated that this is a social issue and one that ties into the current study and discussion of sustainable development.

"The opinion of the wide majority of Bermudian residents is that crime must be addressed, that it will no longer be tolerated and that the country has had enough."

BAT's 12-point action plan for combating crime in Bermuda consisted of the following recommendations:

We must implore the community to step up its collective vigilance against any type of crime. Local residents must be encouraged to advise the Police if they know of anyone who is engaging in illegal activity, including family members. BAT should work with the Police to improve and enhance the crime stoppers programme, so that cash rewards are given to persons who provide information on criminals that leads to a conviction. This should be extended to providing cash rewards and extensive public recognition for individuals who prevent crimes against visitors.

We must educate children about the pitfalls of a life of crime. This can be done by Policemen, Leaders, Captains of Industry and Tourism Industry representatives going to the schools and making presentations in support of the tourism industry and against crime.

The Police Service has created a Tourism Crime Unit (TCU). We must support the TCU by effective communication, liaison with them and by obtaining a list of the members of the TCU and their contact information. This information should be shared with management of hotels, guest houses, bars, restaurants, night clubs and all tourist attractions. We should hold monthly meetings with the TCU to ascertain exactly what types of crimes are being committed, any trends they have observed and to provide them with updates from the industry. We should also write to the Commissioner of Police requesting that he detail a minimum of one police officer to be the Liaison Officer for the Tourism Industry. This person could also be a member of the TCU. This will also enable us to be proactive and implement initiatives that will prevent crimes from being committed.

Visitors and locals should be made aware of vulnerable areas where crimes typically happen. These vulnerable areas include secluded areas, poorly lit areas, remote ATM cash machines and any area where there is little activity and few people. Vulnerable times are primarily late evenings but could be any time in remote areas. Also, the Police should be asked to increase the patrols in these areas.

The drug problem is at the root of many of our problems. The Police have determined that most of the crimes being committed of late are being committed by one or two individuals who are on drugs and who are committing crimes to feed their habit. We must assist the Police, Customs and Immigration in their efforts to win the war against drugs.

l The Crime Prevention Officer from the Police Service should make a presentation to all industry stakeholders. He should be required to conduct new assessments of the level of safety and security of the various hotels and guest houses, with reports being given to the owners and/or managers within two weeks of his inspection. In addition, we must find a way to get all properties to participate in the Hotel Merit Awards Programme, a programme designed to recognise hotels that achieve high standards in crime prevention, health and fire safety. Presently, very few properties participate. Further, all properties should be required to undergo a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review by a certified CPTED Practitioner with a view to designing out Crime and Anti-social Behaviour.

BAT should implement a public relations campaign wherein we publicly declare war against all crimes. This should begin with a major press conference and should be followed by posters, notices on web sites, Television and radio interviews. The speakers at the press conference should be the Governor, the Premier, the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, the Minister of Tourism and Transport as well as the Commissioner of Police, in addition to BAT representatives. The theme of this entire effort should be zero tolerance of crime in Bermuda and we must obtain buy-in from all sectors of the community.

BAT should work with Government and the Police to augment their witness protection plan, so that witnesses are properly and effectively protected. This will make people more willing to provide information about criminals. This should be extended to sequestering witnesses and juries during cases and trials.

BAT should write to the Premier to ask for stiffer penalties for assaults, handbag snatches and all violent crimes against visitors.

BAT should write to the Governor and the Commissioner of Police to ask them to direct officers to enforce the law to its full extent and to provide a more visible Police presence throughout the island but especially in areas where crimes are typically committed. This might be achieved by having Police on pedal cycles and/or horses in certain areas.

BAT should further encourage the public to demand action from politicians and elected officials. BAT should encourage other interest groups to make themselves heard and to speak out against crime. The entire country must stand united and say, "No, enough is enough. No more crime." The message must be driven home to politicians, criminals and 'would be' criminals, that this country will no longer tolerate crime. This can be achieved through a public relations exercise.

BAT should write to the Governor, the Premier, the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, the Mayor of Hamilton and the Commissioner of Police to enforce the law against loitering and to stamp out begging, which is becoming a major nuisance to both locals and visitors. Beggars are to be arrested, charged in court, referred to treatment agencies and kept off the streets.

The report has been forwarded to the Governor, the Premier, the Minister of Tourism & Transport, the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety and the Commissioner of Police to obtain their feedback.

"Once they have agreed to partner with us in this initiative, we must work with them to develop an implementation strategy and to ensure that decisive action is taken now," concluded the report.