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Dear Sir,

I am a U.K. citizen who has enjoyed many vacations in Bermuda. It has ­always been a safe haven and a ­getaway I could look ­forward to and enjoy.

But friends on the islands have made me aware of the recent troubles brewing and I feel that Government (like all governments) are sitting on their hands ­waiting for it to go away.

We all know this won't happen without a strong police force who hit hard in the trouble spots or make examples of people who carry offensive weapons, drugs or who have known affiliations with gangs.

Gang culture is a global fashion and kids want to see themselves as street ­heroes without thinking about the long-term ­implications.

In Bermuda's case, the long-term is tourism.

What will it take before a task force is set up? The death of a tourist? Street muggings at knifepoint and no-go areas? A staple part of Bermuda's economy is tourism and if this slips, it may never recover - look at the U.K.

We let things get too bad before we stepped up to the mark but now the cancer has spread and is incurable.

In 2007/8 we had 9,800 gun crimes, four per cent of all crimes, and 22,150 knife ­offences, seven per cent of all crimes. These figures are huge.

No one can blame the ­police for the slow response because they, like everyone, have been led to believe that this problem is isolated and will not spread.

But gangs retaliate when there is violence or theft against their members.

When this hits schools, and it will, you can expect kids to carry knives in ­defence and, like in the U.K., deal drugs to fund their own lifestyles.

This is information you already know and the time to act is now - you can't sit back and see how it plays out.

If you don't act, tourism will continue to decline as people will be scared of ­being hurt when they visit your island.

Bermuda cannot afford to lose much more tourism.

Why not begin a petition that all residents can sign in a bid to prompt ­Government into action?

Businesses can put up posters in their windows boasting "Keep Bermuda Safe". We do similar things in the U.K. on a local level and it has great results.

The only people against a powerful police force are those who have something to hide.

Kill the gang culture and keep the tourists coming.

I know I will wait to see what the next step is by Government before ­booking my next trip.

Steve Egglesden[[In-content Ad]]

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