Police released the crime figures for the last three months of 1996 which show a total of 715 offences were committed -- compared to 1,540 in the last three months of 1994 and 927 in 1995.

The figures were released a day after Police Commissioner Colin Coxall told an audience of bankers that crime should be considerably down for the whole of 1996 compared to 1995.

According to the latest figures, total crimes of violence were 94 for the last three months of 1996 -- the same for the corresponding period in 1995 and 27 less than the last three months of 1994.

There were 62 thefts compared to 79 in the last three months of 1995 and 108 in 1994.

The number of break-ins or burglaries fell from 531 over October, November and December in 1994, to 332 in 1995 and 299 in the last three months of 1996.

Bike and car thefts also fell from 780 over the last three months of 1994 to 422 in 1995 and 260 in the last quarter of 1996.

Earlier this week Mr. Coxall told the Chartered Institute of Bankers that he was concerned about the level of violence in Bermuda -- but suggested it was more a matter for society than Police (see editorial on Page 4).

Supt. Vic Richmond agreed with Mr. Coxall, but he added: "Generally, the reduction in crime is pleasing.

"The over-riding factor is that there is a fairly small core of prolific offenders with regard to crimes of dishonesty. One of the major reasons for the reduction in crime, in my view, is that the vast majority of these prolific offenders are incarcerated.'' Colin Coxall CRIME CRM