ship initiative to include other vessels visiting the Island.

And a spokesman for the group described how they were planning to take their strategies into the new Millennium.

Vice-chairman David Carruthers explained that the initiative to encourage cruise ship crew members to call the Crime Stoppers hot line about drug smuggling at the docks, which it was estimated had already kept about $3 million worth of controlled substances from hitting the streets, was expected to be expanded.

"We're hoping to widen the scheme to include, not just cruise ships, but the crews of cargo and other vessels too,'' he said.

Mr. Carruthers said this was one of two recent initiatives aimed at increasing the organisation's ability to take a bite out of crime.

Started in 1995 by Progressive Labour Party MP and former Police officer Wayne Perinchief and then-Police Commissioner Lenny Edwards, Crime Stoppers offers the public an opportunity to inform authorities about crime while remaining completely anonymous.

Its logo and toll-free number are printed on the front page of The Royal Gazette every day in an effort to let people know that they can offer information without worrying about being identified.

However, Mr. Carruthers explained that, despite the group's best efforts, one of the main reasons why many people still remained silent was because they were afraid that their calls would be traced.

He stressed that this was absolutely not the case and reiterated the organisation's motto: "Anyone can call us, anytime and from any place. We don't want your name. We just want your information.'' But Mr. Carruthers said some members of the public's hesitance in calling the hotline did not serve to discourage Crime Stoppers from succeeding in what it originally set out to do.

His confidence was bolstered by the fact that the group has only recently started to have a co-ordinator working for it full time.

And he added that 1999 had seen the introduction of two new initiatives aimed at expanding the organisation into something the public felt they could have "true confidence'' in.

Another new Crime Stoppers programme, reported in The Royal Gazette last March, is aimed at trying to give callers a stronger feeling of anonymity and also more of a chance to talk to a live operator rather than just a machine.

It involves a co-operative venture between the group and the Police department in Miami, Florida and has all Bermudian tip-offs being redirected to the US and relayed back here by a special fax.

Mr. Carruthers explained: "A big fear that people have here is that their voices might be recognised when speaking with a local operator. That's one of the reasons we're doing this.

"The other reason is that the Miami personnel will be able to answer calls for a much longer time period, actually for 18 out of the day's 24 hours.'' The vice-chairman was hopeful that the programme would be completely up and running during the first half of next year.

With its annual general meeting coming up later this month, Crime Stoppers' re-energised executive will be looking to bringing awareness into the school system.

"We're considering this very carefully because we know dealing with young people is quite a touchy area,'' Mr. Carruthers explained, "but we realise that a lot of drug activity goes on around Bermuda's schools and that this could definitely be an area to focus on in the future.'' Mr. Carruthers noted that the organisation found a good deal of financial and moral support coming from different sectors of the community.

And he added that such support only served to reinforce his "encouragement'' in regards to Crime Stoppers' future.

"We feel that we can make promises to the community now and really deliver on them,'' he said. "We're really going to grow from here.'' The toll-free number for Crime Stoppers is 1-800-623-8477 and the service is open 24 hours.