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Bermuda's crime situation is cause for grave concern.

We are in the midst of a prolonged surge and need the Police fighting hard and effectively for us.

Violent crime and crimes of dishonesty have been growing steadily for more than two years with no indication the upward trends are leveling let alone subsiding. We need to stem the tide.

While we appreciate the frustration behind the Public Safety Minister's outburst this week, it is essential we deal with the situation sensibly. We need cool heads, not hot heads.

There is an urgent and pressing need to reassess our approach to crime fighting. The statistics raise questions about whether current strategies and deployments are the right ones.

The time for a formal review of the Police Service is long past due.

The Police Service was last inspected in 2003 by a highly qualified UK Inspector of Constabulary. The inspections offer highly useful reviews of what is working well, what is not working well, and recommendations flow from them.

These inspections typically run in three-to-four year cycles, with recommendations followed by a period of implementation. It has been six years since that 2003 review and we have no news of a new inspection.

Bermuda needs one now.

In addition, we need an update on Police accreditation, which was started in 2003 with the application to the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.

The accreditation process helps ensure Police are doing things to recognized standards; to improve Police performance in operational, technical and administrative areas. The accreditation should have been completed in 2007, and so we ask the question: "Where are we on accrediting the Police Service?"

Bermuda needs tough action on crime now. We have every faith in the men and women of the Police Service to do the job, but it is only sensible to take measures that can help them do their job more effectively.

Senator Michael Dunkley, is Shadow Minister for Public Safety.

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