Bermuda's under-30s have given Government a clear message on how to stamp out youth crime: "Start listening to us!'' The twenty-somethings came up with a range of recommendations to clamp down on violence in a street poll carried out by The Royal Gazette .

But they said their biggest fear was that their own concerns were falling on deaf ears at the highest level.

A rising tide of violence has prompted both major political parties to propose their own conferences for young people.

Nightclubs have vowed to start regular meetings with Police and there could even be a "ban list'' of clubland troublemakers.

Government also considered introducing night-time curfews for teenagers.

And there have even been calls for the Broadcast Commission to cut down on TV violence.

But Carla Lambert, who celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday, said: "Of course youth violence needs to be stopped but young people perceive a lack of attention and interest in what their problems really are.

"Many adults in senior positions don't listen, don't pay attention and don't involve youngsters in anything important.

"People in my age bracket, that is 17 to 20, are worried about jobs and opportunities.

"But Government really needs to take on board what young people are feeling these days and what they are worried about.'' Carla, from Southampton, added: "At the same time, I realise that there are problems which need to be overcome.

"Drinking is one of those problems and I think it's really important that nightclubs start checking ID properly.'' McInnis Looby, 28, from Smith's Parish, said: "I don't think senior members of Government are in touch with what young people really want.

"There are so many options out there and what young people really need is to be listened to. There may not be one solution to the problem of youth violence because we are such a small community and everybody tries to be different.

"It may be hard to structure something like a youth conference but that sort of thing would help.'' Twenty-year-old Dion Ford, also from Smith's, added: "These conferences have been tried before but you always get a lot of positive young people and others who just aren't interested.

"Government would just have to wade through that and listen to what the responsible youngsters had to say.

"They may find it appropriate to concentrate on tackling drugs to get to the root of the problem.

"Other people have suggested the aggravation is caused by violence on TV but I don't go along with that.

"There would be violence in our society even if there wasn't TV. That shouldn't be changed. It's not the answer.'' Michelle Seymour, 24, from Pembroke, said: "This is really a big question and it's not one that can be answered within a few minutes.

"Getting to the heart of youth violence may be the biggest problem we are facing.

"Parents are not active enough but I do not support a curfew or over-disciplining children.

"Instead, it's important to give young people an outlet for their interests.

"Youths obviously have a lot of pent-up aggression so we should try to focus it into boys' and girls' clubs and outward bound courses.'' Thirty-year-old Rochelle Symonds, from Somerset, added: "As far as I'm concerned, there should be a curfew.

"I'm not old myself but I'm frightened of the youth now. People are scared and they ought to be scared.

"But if there was a curfew we would know young people were not out causing trouble.

"It's up to nightclubs to come down hard on anyone found to be violent and if that means banning them, so be it. It's a tough world.'' British jeweller John Leon, recently arrived in Bermuda from Birmingham, England, agreed that nightclubs should play a leading role.

But the 26-year-old said he felt some problems may have been overstated.

"There is a problem with youth crime in Bermuda as there is everywhere,'' he said.

"It doesn't really seem to be out of control. But one of the problems I see is that all the nightclubs in Hamilton are within a very short distance of each other.

"Perhaps if they were spaced out a bit more, Police would have a less concentrated area to patrol which would make things easier.'' STREET TALK Rochelle Symonds Michelle Seymour John Leon Carla Lambert Dion Ford McInnis Looby