Former Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith has called for more armed Police on the streets, claiming unarmed officers are "playing roulette' with their lives.

His comments came after several recent gun incidents and with a man still on the run three months after allegedly shooting at officers.

In a letter to this newspaper, Mr. Smith, who retired in 2005 after five years at the helm, said: "We've arrived at a point where serious consideration must be given to equip additional Police officers with firearms. The Police have an armed capability now but it has limitations as a restricted number have the training, experience and authorisation necessary to carry a firearm for operational deployments. The Police know it; the public know it, as do the criminals.

"This is not a new debate but one which has accelerated in recent years with the persistent incidents of firearms being found in the possession of criminals, used in the commission of serious crimes, used to kill and maim others and yes, against the Police.

Mr. Smith acknowledged it would cost a substantial amount to buy "several hundred" guns and train officers to use them. However, he said he viewed it as a progression from "huge strides" made during his time to improve officer safety.

He listed these measures as including the provision of safety vests, new batons, modern handcuffs and Captor incapacitant spray.

Mr. Smith also oversaw the provision of new equipment for the armed Emergency Response Team, which consists of around 21 highly-trained officers serving in various Police units who are called upon when specific incidents occur and to execute warrants.

"It was clear that there was a collective effort, over several years, to better arm and protect the Police so as to improve their service to the country. We've been on the threshold of expanding the armed response of the Police for several years now," he said.

"I'd venture to say that we're at the point where more Police officers need to be armed and deployed.

"To have unarmed Police officers routinely coming into contact with armed criminals is akin to playing roulette. Roulette odds are not very favourable."

It was reported on Friday that Police had been alerted to three reports of gun activity in the previous three weeks. One of these was an alleged "drive by shooting" in St. Monica's Road, Pembroke, on February 21. No-one was injured.

On November 29, a man is reported to have opened fire on three Police officers in Middletown, Pembroke, after a vehicle chase.

Nobody was hurt, but prime suspect Omari Gordon remains on the run despite several public appeals and a $5,000 reward offered for information about his whereabouts.

Several defendants are currently before the courts awaiting trial over firearms allegations, including a man charged with allegedly being in possession of a loaded gun when pulled over by Police on a traffic matter last Monday.

Crime statistics for last year showed an upswing in murder, robbery and firearms offences with 19 reported firearms offences, up from 12 the year before and eight in 2006.

Mr. Smith told this newspaper he decided to air his views about arming the Police as a result of recent crime figures and incidents.

However, he stressed: "Arming operational officers cannot be seen as a knee-jerk reaction to recent events. Between 2003 and 2004, the deployment of armed officers for operational work was at the highest ever levels.

"I authorised armed officers to be deployed at Cup Match for the very first time in 2004. Armed deployments for high profile court cases became routine almost ten years ago.

"The deployment of additional authorised firearms officers in recent years has also become routine. The progression to equip on-duty operational officers with firearms 24/7 is now an appropriate response."

However, he acknowledged: "Expanding the armed capability within the Police will not come quickly or cheaply.

"The acquisition of several hundred quality firearms and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition comes at a substantial cost.

"The need for training, retraining, certification and re-certification all necessary if internationally accepted safety and compliance standards are to be met comes at a tremendous cost in time.

"As the collective efforts have shown in the past, with the will, financing and commitment it can be done. The public and the Police deserve nothing less than improved public safety and the ability to counter threats appropriately."

Asked if he felt that the sight of armed Police officers could alarm Bermuda's residents and tourists alike, Mr. Smith responded: "What you could say is do the members of the public and tourists want to see dead Policemen lying on the street?"

Current Police Commissioner George Jackson did not respond to a request for comment. Last week, Minister of Public Safety David Burch Senator Burch called for the Police to get tougher with offenders with "decisive, aggressive and appropriately violent action".

He later expressed regret over his use of the word "violent" but stuck to his general point.

* See the letter in full on page 4.

* What do you think? Should Police be routinely armed? Email your views to news@royalgazette.bm.