revealed yesterday in a hard-hitting speech against modern values.

He painted a picture of an increasingly violent Island, where the baseball bat is the "weapon of choice'' and disrespect for authority is normal.

But he also revealed that crime had generally decreased, including breaking and entering.

Commissioner Edwards revealed new figures on reported crime, covering the first nine months of the year.

Compared with the same period in 1991, crime "against the person'' was up 24.9 percent.

Crime against property was down 17.7 percent, while breaking and entering was down 15.2 percent.

Speaking to Hamilton Rotarians, Mr. Edwards outlined how he believed Bermuda's "simple lifestyle'' had changed, presenting challenges especially to young, newly-trained officers.

"Good character, common decency, self-discipline and respect are no longer emphasised as qualities for success,'' he said.

"Materialism by whatever means necessary has replaced all of that. "Blatant disregard for authority, whether it be in the home, school, workplace or publicly is the norm.

"Communication has been replaced with such weapons as the baseball bat and the machete.'' Hardly a day passed without a senior officer telling him of some form of baseball bat violence, he said.

"It seems to be the weapon of choice these days.'' Mr. Edwards appeared to indicate such attacks were being committed by people who knew each other.

"It's not being inflicted willy-nilly on the ordinary public as we go about our business.

"This place is still a relatively peaceful and safe place.'' But Police were greatly concerned about domestic violence. And they were thankful to organisations who were springing up and giving advice to battered families.

"We have seen quite a change in the last year and I think it's pretty safe to say that the downturn in the economy has touched each and every one of us, and the area through which it seems to have touched many, many people is domestic violence.'' Overall, 3,122 indictable crimes were reported in the first nine months of this year, said Mr. Edwards, down 17.3 percent on the first nine months of 1991.

He was not able to give figures on crimes solved until the end of the year, he said. "But I'm very pleased to say that our clear-up rate is looking very good.'' Drugs were still a major problem. While the amount of heroin seized in the first nine months of this year was down, cocaine and cannabis seizures were up.

Mr. Edwards outlined the complaints officers brought to him. "They will say that the rights of the Police officer have been stripped and given to the criminally-minded.

"They will say accountability has grown tenfold with what appear to be severe restrictions on how they can do their jobs.'' But officers admitted that if they were not accountable and disciplined, then they would not be serving the public.

Bermuda grew so rapidly in the '70s and '80s that Policemen had to be taken off the street and put in cars to keep up with criminals, he said.

"Now we're trying to put Policemen back on the beat.'' A "complete overhaul'' of the service was being looked at, he said, and new policing policies were being considered against the background of recent cuts.

Mr. Edwards, who took the post seven months ago, said his honeymoon in the job was definitely over.

He admitted "poor judgement calls'' happened occasionally, but said Police were listening to the community and took their responsibilities seriously.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan had told him: "You have the second most difficult job in the Country'', but Mr. Edwards believed his job rivalled even that of the Premier's in terms of difficulty.

After his speech, Mr. Edwards reacted to criticisms of an alleged lack of promotion prospects for officers. He acknowledged he had not yet made some significant promotions.

"There has been a downturn in the amount of manpower we have,'' he said.

Promotion was being looked at in relation to that.

There were some "outright vacancies'' yet to be filled, which at present were being covered by "acting'' officers.

Earlier this year rumours spread about unrest among officers frustrated over an apparent promotions block.