people marched through the streets of Hamilton in a stand against the growing trend of violence.

Mothers and sisters were told to be courageous and hand their sons and brothers over to Police if they believed they were behind crime.

Members of the community were warned that it was everyone's responsibility to reduce crime, before it was too late for Bermuda. Men, women, schoolchildren and toddlers, holding banners above their heads, were joined by both Police and MPs in their efforts to raise awareness of the problem. The crowds met on Pitts Bay Road, where a number of tourists and residents have fallen victim to handbag snatchers in recent months. Leading women from around Bermuda then addressed the demonstrators, before the 400-strong crowd moved along Front Street to the Cabinet building. One of the organisers, Geneva Humdy-Woodley, told the crowd that a gunman had broken into her LA home when she was just 21.

Marchers call for families to turn criminals in The New Yorker, who has lived in Bermuda for a number of years, said it took her more than ten years to start living her life normally again following the terrifying attack.

She said if that was how long it took her, a young woman, how long would it take a senior or tourist.

And she said that anybody concealing or failing to turn in criminals were as bad as the perpetrators themselves.

"We have to look beyond race and colour, expats or not. It does not matter,'' she said.

"If you know criminals, you have to turn them in. We have to stop protecting them. We have to stop our children going out victimising people.

"We can stop the violence. We can take Bermuda back to the way it used to be, but we have to do it together.'' And Sharon Apopa, a director at The Women's Resource Centre, said she had sensed a shift in the atmosphere of the community -- a sense that people would not tolerate violence any longer.

She said: "I decree and declare today, in the presence of all gathered here, on behalf of those women and children who have been victims of violence in our community, that we will no longer bow, we will not bend and we will not burn.

"Women and men of Bermuda, today we are marching to send a unified message of hope to survivors and of zero tolerance to perpetrators.'' Among the crowds gathered yesterday was Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith, his deputy George Jackson, and his assistant Carlton Adams.

But there was also an impressive turn out from Parliament.

Minister for Labour and Home Affairs Paula Cox joined the march to show support for the anti-violence message, along with Attorney General Dame Lois Browne-Evans, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, Minister Randy Horton, and leader of the Opposition Pamela Gordon, to name a few.

Ms Cox praised the organisers of the protest and said the community had to join together to fight back.

She said: "I certainly hope that we are sending a message. It is a joint effort and everybody must play their part.

"We have to be prepared to speak out, even when it might affect those closest to us. It takes great courage and conviction to do what you believe in. We have to tell the Police when we know someone who is committing crime.'' And also marching was the family friend of murdered Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton, Rick Meens.

Yesterday, Mr. Meens said: "I had to come today to march against violence on the Island. I am here for all the women and children. I felt like it was my duty to be here. People need to be heard and people need to listen.'' Resident Denise Hansford-Smith, who lives on Hinson's Island, said she took part in the march because of her growing concern over crime.

She said: "People are really frightened. I know that I daren't go out on my own at night. I hope the march gets people talking, and maybe the courts can do more to ensure that sentences match the crime. It would be good to see more Police on the streets, too.'' And Bermudian Jennifer Page said she rarely felt safe in Bermuda.

She added: "I'm hoping that maybe the judges will impose stiffer sentences as a result of today.

"I think violent crime is getting worse, especially against tourists.

"I can't believe we actually tell visitors that Bermuda is really safe, we are lulling them into a false security. I have lived here all my life, and I don't think Bermuda is safe.'' And senior Muriel Archer, who helped to inspire the march after she herself was attacked by a handbag snatcher in February near to her home around Pitts Bay Road, was also in the thick of the action yesterday.

She said: "I think we have had a wonderful turn-out today. Hopefully it will prevent somebody else from being attacked.

"I was dragged to the ground by the man that grabbed my bag. I was black and blue all down my side and quite shaken. It was a horrible thing to go through -- I wouldn't want it to happen to anybody else.''