year compared to 1995.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness outlined the statistics contained in a Bermuda Police crime report which showed there were 1,328 or 34 percent fewer crimes between January 1, 1996 and November 25 compared to the same period in 1995.

While most crimes showed a decrease, murders -- three recorded for the first three quarters of 1995 and six for the corresponding period in 1996 -- increased 100 percent.

Sexual exploitation of a young person increased from eight to 13 or 62 percent and offences involving a firearm increased from 10 to 13 or 30 percent.

Thefts from hotels also went up 31 percent or 32 from to 42 as did thefts from guest houses (two to six or 200 percent).

Handbag snatches occurred with an eight percent greater frequency in 1996 from (40 to 43).

But removal of vehicles declined by 44 percent, with 2,631 stolen so far this year, compared to 3,959 in 1995, a fall of 44 percent.

Other major declines included assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (-17 percent), violently resisting arrest (-11 percent), robbery (-14 percent), attempted robbery (-31 percent) and break-ins of all kinds (-33 percent).