Government is calling for Bermudians to "do the right thing" and hand in their weapons as it introduces a gun amnesty in the fight against increasingly violent crime in Bermuda.

And Public Safety Minister Randy Horton promised the 28-day amnesty was "just the beginning" of the war against escalating public disorder.

He hinted that other measures could follow, including arming Police officers with CS spray and increasing staffing levels in the force. The amnesty - Bermuda's fourth since the mid-1980s - would allow people who are currently in possession of firearms, ammunition or other prohibited weapons to turn them in to the nearest Police station without being prosecuted.

"Every individual who deeply cares for the continued well-being and prosperity of our Island will have recoiled in disappointment and horror upon learning of the events that unfolded early on Tuesday morning following a concert at White Hill Field," Mr. Horton told a Press conference yesterday. "Yet again, there was violence in a public place. There have been reports of individuals in the crowd possessing various prohibited weapons, including machetes and baseball bats. Perhaps, most alarming of all, there have been reports of an individual wielding a firearm.

"This kind of lawlessness must stop for it is causing immeasurable damage to our quality of life. The incidence of illicit firearms use in our community has warranted the utmost concern of Government.

"We submit that there is little doubt that firearms and other prohibited weapons are being used by the criminal fraternity and that their use is strongly associated with criminal enterprises, drug activities or in the commission of specific criminal offences.

"It is the Government's view that an amnesty that results in the surrender of firearms, ammunition, imitation firearms and prohibited weapons to the Police, without fear of prosecution, is likely to reduce the accessibility to weapons and thus eliminate the opportunity for crimes to occur involving such weapons or ammunition."

The last amnesty in 1994, the result of the shooting at the Spinning Wheel night-club on Court Street that left two teenagers in hospital, saw around 350 items handed in including six rifles, 14 handguns, nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition as well as marine flares, a crossbow, a slingshot and some mace.

A number of imitation weapons were also surrendered.

As with previous amnesties, an agreement has been reached with Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser so that no criminal proceedings will be instituted against any person delivering a firearm, ammunition or prohibited weapon, to a Police station in Bermuda between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Saturday, November 15, to Saturday, December 13.

All three Police stations on the Island will have containers to receive the weapons with staff all receiving training on how to deal with the arrival of the potentially lethal weapons.

And Mr. Horton warned that when the amnesty had lapsed, Government would come down hard on those who still have illicit weapons.

"From December 14, the full authority of the law will be brought against anyone found in possession of a firearm or prohibited weapon.

"The people of Bermuda have a right to demand a safe and secure environment. The Government strongly believes that the granting of a firearms and prohibited weapons amnesty is a necessary step along the road to guaranteeing the kind of environment that all of us expect and deserve."

When asked if Government were planning any other new measures to combat the spiralling public disorder on the Island, Mr Horton replied: "This is just the beginning.

"We are in discussions about how best to come to grips with this. We will do anything that we can to bring public order."

In relation to Commissioner Jonathan Smith's plea earlier this week for extra staff, Mr. Horton said: "We will be taking a very serious look at the whole issue of resources and resource allocation and whether we need to get further support."

And when asked about the introduction of CS spray, as called for Bermuda Police Association secretary Dave Kinnersley earlier this week, he replied: "That is certainly something we are looking at. The more something raises its head the closer it becomes to reality."

When asked by The Royal Gazette how many guns were thought to be in circulation on the Island, Commissioner Smith would only answer: "Far too many."