statistics soaring.

Crime figures have rocketed over the last three months but officers have pointed out that overall figures are at a five-year low.

Now the Service is to change the way information is collected to help target resources at crime hot-spots and known offenders.

Crime figures for the first three months of 2000 were released yesterday and show crime went up by 27 percent since January with a large rise in breaking and entering offences.

But there was a big fall-off in vehicle theft and overall crime was down 20 percent from 1997.

Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay said: "There are some increases in categories but overall the picture looks very good. Increases in one or two categories can throw some of the good work we are doing out of whack,'' he noted.

"These things fluctuate. We know there are individuals who are responsible for crime. When they go on a rampage you can see increases in categories of breaking and entering.

"Increases in cycle theft can reflect as significant increases in overall crime yet we can be doing some very good work in other categories.'' Acting Deputy Commissioner George Jackson said: "A disproportionate amount of crime is committed by a small group of persistent offenders.

"This stresses the importance of identifying through intelligence those persistent offenders and targetting those offenders accordingly.'' Watching persistent offenders "This is a proactive intelligence-led style of policing.

"The community needs to feel they are safe in the community -- that when they leave home crime will not be occurring at home and they themselves will not be a victim of crime.'' He said crime prevention, such as the hotel initiative where known persistent offenders were banned from all properties of them, were working.

"This reduces the incidences where they will be able to freely roam and commit crime,'' said Mr. Jackson.

"We have identified a large number of businesses in west Pembroke which were repeatedly victimised by persistent offenders.

"Our crime prevention unit has given advice to these businesses to secure their premises and prevent victimisation.

"In a nutshell, the Bermuda Police Service is looking at ways of reducing opportunities to commit crime, especially during the prevalent months of summer when we are looking at an increase in tourist population which means a lot more properties will be occupied.

"We are also looking at ways of curbing repeat offenders. We work with other partners in the criminal justice system to divert those people from committing crimes.

"There are a small group of persistent offenders. We are informed when they are released. We target them to ensure they don't commit any further crimes.'' He said the offenders would be helped to find work.

"They have limited marketable skills, that's what makes them turn to crime.'' But known offenders would not be hounded, added Mr. Jackson.

"You have to bear in mind the human rights' issues. Unless someone is suspected of committing a crime they have a right to live in peace.'' Mr. Lemay said crime statistics would be made more intelligible. Crimes will be measured per 1,000 population so Government and the public would know where they stood.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Smith said this approach would stop the public being alarmed by temporary blips such as the large increase since January.

He said: "It's always dangerous to look at crime statistics over a short period.'' The overall drop in crime since 1996 was more remarkable because the population had actually risen since then, noted Mr. Smith.

Mr. Lemay said better intelligence and statistics would mean resources could be taken from quiet areas and diverted to problem areas.