In 2002, Bermuda Police made 1,300 seizures of drugs with a street value of $44 million ? more than the Police budget for the year.

Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith revealed that 800 arrests were also made that year, a worrying statistic with drugs accepted as being the cause of many other crimes.

"I think it illustrates the significant size of the problem to the community," said Mr. Smith, during a frank and revealing interview called by the Commissioner to explain the frontline work the Police are undertaking across the Island.

"There have been some significant seizures that will leave a lot of people unhappy. We have hit drug dealers in the pocket.

"We know the seizures have had some sizeable impact."

He admitted that despite boasts at the volume of last year's haul, there was no way of knowing how much had got through ? "how long is a piece of string" ? but he was keen to praise officers for their work combating Bermuda's prolific drug trade.

Weapon seizures were also made, he revealed, some of them multiple finds, but he refused to give any details as many of the legal proceedings were ongoing.

He said that 29 firearms, both real and replica, had also been seized since 2000, a sign of the escalating problem on the Island ? although checks by through court records show that nowhere near that figure have made it through the legal system yet.

"We aggressively pursue firearms intelligence," he continued, revealing that the armed response unit had been called 45 times this year, including executing warrants, more than the past three years combined.

"Where there is actionable intelligence, we will act upon it."

The increased appearance of firearms in Bermuda is a measure of what the Police are having to face day to day, with Mr. Smith revealing that incidences of threats of violence against officers and injuries to frontline staff had doubled in the past 12 months.

Weapons have also been pulled on officers 13 times in the last year, with Mr. Smith admitting that "officers are feeling an increased vulnerability".

But he did reveal that overtures made by the Bermuda Police Service for CS Spray were receiving his support, with Mr. Smith calling for a review to be drawn up.

"We want to support the safety of officers," he said.

"More than 85 percent of our budget is to pay people, and we want to make sure those people are working in the safest possible environment.

"Anything that better equips them and protects them and helps effect arrests has my making. I have called for a review and we would study any recommendations carefully."

He was unwilling, however, to discuss issues involving staffing levels.

Mr. Smith was keen to extol the virtues of the Police Support Unit, who he revealed had made 2150 arrests since being set-up in 2001.

Although there were no figures available to show what percentage of total arrests that represented, nor how many of these resulted in convictions, the PSU are clearly seen as a vital weapon in the Police's armoury.

"The PSU was set-up to deal with the changing face of public disorder," he continued.

"Reports of public order at events, concerts and outside nightclubs were increasing, leading to too many situations at night where staff were outnumbered.

"Since we have deployed them, they have made a significant number of arrests for a whole range of public disorder offences, including possession of drugs, assaults, weapons offences and executing warrants. They have responded and responded well, in my view.

"I believe they have clearly had an impact. They work in the face of increasing violence but play a vital role in what we are trying to achieve."

And Mr. Smith was keen to point out that law enforcement was just one of the ways violence on the Island can be controlled.

"Public order problems won't just stop when the Police get involved," he added.

"We can see someone sitting on a wall on Monday, arrest them on Tuesday, see them released on bail on the Wednesday and they will be back on the wall on Thursday.

"Families, schools, parents and community groups need to play a role in getting to the root of the problem. The demands on the Police are ever-increasing.

"There are more public events at more venues involving more people across the Island. People are coming to realise that violence is not just a law enforcement issue.

"Violence can be cured, but law enforcement is just one component in a community response. Many of the remedies rest within the community."