The chairman of a crime prevention group urged mothers to protect their most valued asset — their children — by breaking their silence.

Joanne MacPhee, chairman of CrimeStoppers who is a stepmother herself, was speaking following a letter to the editor of this paper from "Something2thinkabout" on Thursday.

The letter expresses concern, not about witnesses' names being mentioned, but that information given may point to only one person who will then be targeted by violence.

While Mrs. MacPhee understands the author's concern andsaid CrimeStoppers can do nothing to protect the informants, she urged Bermudians to think in "safety in numbers". (See panel at right about the way it works.)

The stepmother of a teenage boy also urged all mothers and especially those of the men involved in the recent Christmas Day shooting to speak-up and protect them from anymore violence.

She said: "The more people who use the hotline the more tips the Police have to go on. That means the less likely the criminal will know who the informant is.

"But it's for the mothers to start asking the tough questions. They need to start looking into drawers and they need to start behaving as crime stoppers.

"I am calling as a female to the women, the mothers and female guardians of these young people to rally."

Mrs. MacPhee feels mothers, especially single mothers, should be angry that their sons, to whom they may have given their teenage years, their money for clothes and food, and their time, are now killing others or are dead themselves.

She is not alone in her calls.

Marsha Jones, the mother of Jason Lightbourne who was shot in 2003 in the car of Aquil Richardson, spoke out recently after the death of Mr. Richardson.

She said: "There are a lot of children hurting children and thinking that by being violent and a bully makes them feel better about themselves.

"What what about their parents? We've got to start saving our children. If parents know their kids are carrying a gun they need to do some policing themselves. I would rather my kid be angry with me rather than have a phone call from the police."

These calls for information and for help followed the two-day shooting spree that left two men hospitalised and a third dead.

On Christmas Day Jakai Harford was shot in the shoulder at 12.20 a.m. in the Camp Hill area of Southampton. On Boxing Day and also in the Camp Hill area, Aquil Richardson, father of three, was shot dead as the same time Levar Smith was shot in the legs.

Since then Police and Crime Stoppers have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. The latest information from Police indicate 10 people had been arrested and three remained in custody.

Mrs. MacPhee yesterday called for the mothers to come forward and help stop the violence.

She said: "I want mothers to take back their lives and their children's lives. They have taken a huge investment of time in these men and they need to protect it."

If you are a mother and want to speak out or have been affected by this violence contact Robyn Skinner at rskinner@royalgazette.bm