Hooligans and drug users who drag sport into the gutter are to face stiffer penalties and a lifetime ban from all sporting venues on the Island, Governor Sir John Vereker announced yesterday.

Following a number of recent outbreaks of violence at soccer matches across the Island, and the ever-present use of drugs at football games, Government now wants to make all sporting venues increased penalty zones.

That means someone found to be committing a violent or drug offence at or near to a sports facility will face a harsher punishment and greater fine in the courts than if they had committed the same offence anywhere else. At the reconvening of Parliament yesterday, Sir John said: ?In an effort to improve the environment at local sporting grounds, the Government will . . . amend the Criminal Code to establish sports clubs as increased penalty zones.

?As a result, a person convicted for a violent offence or for the possession of drugs in these increased penalty zones could become the subject of a one-time banning order from all sporting grounds on the Island.?

Community Affairs and Sports Minister Dale Butler last night said he was very keen to see the new legislation come into play, but said he was also eager for sports venues around the Island to be fitted with CCTV cameras.

He said similar initiatives had helped to stem hooliganism in sport overseas, and he believed Bermuda now needed to take that route after a number of violent outbreaks at games.

?It?s worked in places like England,? said Mr. Butler.

?We had no choice. The public was crying out for something. I think the two initiatives, with the penalty zones and the cameras, will make the difference. We are doing something to ensure that football becomes a safe sport.?

There have been a number of incidents in recent weeks at football clubs around the Island in which players have been assaulted by people at the ground and others have run amok.

And last year, a gang of thugs armed with machetes, baseball bats and other weapons caused havoc at Devonshire Recreation Club during a soccer match.

Last night, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Larry Mussenden welcomed the move.

He said: ?We support any initiative that is going to address issues of violence or drugs at sports club, football or otherwise.

?The BFA has long been a proponent of having measures to address unruly conduct.?

Mussenden said both the BFA and various clubs had banned people in the past and he believed making that law, coupled with stiffer fines, would send out the right message.

?The time has come where we take back all of our sports facilities so the community can enjoy sport,? added the president.

Public Safety Minister Randy Horton, a former Sports Minister, said: ?It?s something that we must not tolerate. I?m certainly hoping it will be a deterrent . . . but more importantly, we need the community?s support. When they witness a criminal act, they need to speak up.?