Police searched more than 200 people over the weekend in an effort to "disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs".

Two hundred and thirty-two searches were conducted over three days beginning Friday.

This resulted in 61 people being arrested for crimes such as outstanding warrants and drug offences. A Police spokesman said: "Thirty-five of the 61 were arrested as a result of proactive policing around gang violence.

"This weekend's number of stop and searches and arrests are some of the highest numbers recorded for a weekend."

The figure showed a sharp increase compared to previous statistics. Between January 1 and June 30 Police conducted 2,382 searches — an average of approximately 13 a day.

The Police crackdown is a result of several gun incidents last week including the daylight shooting of David Godwin on Thursday on St. Monica's Road. He remained in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at press time last night in stable condition.

On Friday Assistant Commissioner of Police David Mirfield announced there would be a heightened Police presence on the streets this past weekend.

He said yesterday: "It is not the intention of the Bermuda Police Service to inconvenience the law-abiding Bermudian. What is our intention is to do everything in our powers to disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs.

"If that means we stop and search more people then we will; if that means we stop and search cars, motorcycles and any other vehicle, then we will; if it means we fill our cells, then we will do that also until such time that the law-abiding citizen feels safe."

Mr. Mirfield apologised for the inconvenience but said that most people were "very accommodating with Police" over the weekend.

A spokesman added: "The Bermuda Police Service remains committed to ensuring the safety of the community and with the continued assistance of the public we can more effectively address all crimes and incidents of anti-social behaviour."

Opposition spokesman for Home Affairs, Michael Dunkley, said the United Bermuda Party was pleased the Police moved aggressively to assert a stronger presence on the streets.

"Last weekend's sweep, in which dozens were arrested and hundreds stopped for questioning, may be the kind of action necessary to impede and interrupt gang activities," he said.

"We have long called for proactive policing that helps curb and control the gun violence, which has become the number one threat to Bermuda's well-being."

And he called on the Government to:

l increase the number of Police officers;

• increase training for Police, and provide more "armed officers if necessary";

• provide a visible armed presence around-the-clock in problem areas.

He added: "The Police Service needs to embed officers in communities across the Island. A dedicated community policing effort — once the backbone of a law-abiding Bermuda — can help Police in building relationships with residents that don't now exist."