Community leaders in St. George's have appealed for a greater Police presence after vandals scrawled graffiti around the Town Square - the second incident in days.

Corporation of St. George's town manager Lance Furbert said the Old Town required higher Police visibility to combat the growing menace of malicious youths.

He said Police sources had informed him that only one double-crewed Police car had been on duty for the entire East End of the Island through the early hours yesterday when the vandalism occurred.

But the town manager said that was not good enough.

"We are extremely frustrated and the Police officers stationed here are extremely frustrated," said Mr. Furbert.

"The officers are making it very clear that they don't have the manpower to do their job. Also, the person responsible for Police in St. George's, Chief Insp. Michael DeSilva, is based in Somerset. It isn't good enough.

"During the early hours last Thursday, vandals came and smashed a lot of our Christmas lights around the square, and now this. We can't continue to go on in this way. We need a greater Police presence."

Youths are believed to be responsible for spray-painting a number of buildings in the heart of St. George's yesterday between 3 a.m. and 4.30 a.m.

The words East Side were scrawled in huge lettering along many walls, including the words Top a Top, which is an area of St. George's, and Jah Warrior.

Among the areas attacked was Somers Supermarket, the National Trust building Bridge House, the Bank of Butterfield, National Visitor Centre, and a temporary staging area in the Town Square.

Mr. Furbert said he believed there was a link between the vandals who smashed the Christmas lights last week and the graffiti, and said he hoped members of the community would come forward with information to ensure the culprits were arrested.

He said Police had laste checked on the square at 3 a.m. and had not noticed any graffiti then. However, by the time one of the corporation's workmen had arrived at 4.30 a.m., the graffiti had materialised.

Mayor of St. George's Henry Hayward said he was disgusted by the vandalism, and wished to meet with Police to talk about the future Policing of the town.

He said: "I think it's disgraceful that people seem to have nothing better to do than go around defacing the buildings.

"Obviously, there is a problem where they are trying to get attention for themselves and this is the way they are doing it. But we have had two incidents within days of each other and it's obvious that we need more Police presence in the town, where officers go on the beat more, rather than stay in the Police station."

Mr. Hayward said the St. George's public safety committee was scheduled to meet last night, so he would be talking to Chief Insp. DeSilva then about the problems.

"At the present time we are not sure whether the existing Police station is going to stay there or move to Southside. When something like this happens, it underlines the fact that we need a station here."

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said there had been three double-crewed Police cars on duty in the East End between 4 p.m. and midnight yesterday, but a single two-man crew then took over.

He said: "Right now, Bermuda Police Service is facing a resources challenge. However, Cabinet has just approved for Bermuda Police to look and recruit overseas. That would bring Bermuda Police back up to strength.

"A recruitment team has been put together and has already started advertising overseas."

In the meantime, Mr. Caines said the Police were looking for information about the vandalism yesterday and the bulb-smashing incident last week.

He said: "Bermuda Police is doing everything in its power to find the vandals who are responsible for this foolish and cowardly act. We are soliciting the support of the St. George's community to come forward and give any information they may feel is useful in the apprehension of these individuals."

Anyone with information should call St. George's Police on 297-1122.