Government has made law and order a priority with a spending boost nearly three times the rate of inflation.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox said: "The construction of the new purpose-built facility to house the Magistrate's Court and the Hamilton Police Station is scheduled to commence in 2001/02 and an allocation of $6.3 million is provided for this project.'' The facility, which is planned in Court Street opposite St. Paul's AME Church, could eventually cost around $20 million.

Mr. Cox continued: "In addition, $1 million will be invested to outfit the St. George's Police Station in a new location at Southside.

"This work is scheduled for completion in the coming year and the newly-equipped station will be the hub for Policing in the eastern parishes.

"In addition to the $1 million investment in plant and equipment, $451,000 of new money is allocated for operations including a police barracks for the residential accommodation of police officers.

"Government's commitment to training is also reflected in new money for the Police budget in 2001/02 with $105,000 allocated for succession planning and executive development, and $124,000 for local and overseas training.'' Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said the new Police station at Southside would complement new communities being developed in the area.

She added: "There will still be a skeletal Police presence in St. George's for tourists and residents.'' New funding of $395,000 is being allocated for an increase in the number of Reserve Police Officers, training of Reserves and payment for their services.

Ms Cox said the reserves were doing a creditable job and needed more resources to help augment the regular force.

She told The Royal Gazette : "They need more equipment and training with computers and radios, there's even cases for cars.'' "With regards to tourism and increasing visibility they do a first class job.

The Reserves are another string to our bow.'' Although recent top level appointments had been made in the Police force, Ms Cox said the succession planning would continue to ensure the service was never caught with its pants down through retirement or resignations.

The hard-pressed prison service also got a boost.

The Finance Minister told the House yesterday: "Mr. Speaker, respect for the law and the safety and security of our community is another high priority for this Government.

"Accordingly, the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety is allocated $74.3 million in 2001/02, an amount that is eight per cent above the 2000/01 level.

"New funding in the amount of $2.2 million is needed to launch the Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) initiative, a new programme approved by Government last year.

"The ATI programme will reduce the number of people sentenced to terms of imprisonment by providing the Judiciary with viable and effective alternatives that include accredited drug rehabilitation programmes, counselling services and other support programmes.

"This initiative is not intended to provide a soft option to prison, rather it focuses on rehabilitation and restorative justice while retaining prison as an option of last resort with tough and mandated remedial programmes for inmates.'' Mr. Cox said there was $1.4 million of new money being provided for the prison service.

He said: "Fifty percent of this amount is for additional staff including 12 prison officers and four case workers.'' However the same number of staff had been promised in last year's Budget.

Paula Cox said they were only now coming on stream.

Mr. Cox continued: "The sum of $384,000 or 28 percent of the new funding is directed toward rehabilitation programmes within the prisons and in the community to provide follow-up for inmates after release.'' Some of the money will go to fund a new version of the Woodshop programme which gets ex-inmates used to the work environment.

Mr. Cox continued: "While on the subject of law enforcement, I should like to note that the Judiciary is allocated new funding in the amount of $830,000 in 2001/02.

"Two Assistant Justices will be added to the Supreme Court at a cost of $234,000 and Phase II of the Court Reporting modernisation will be implemented.'' More for the boys in blue: Even though the Bermuda Police Service received a much needed shot in the arm in 2000 with the addition of these new constables, Finance Minister Eugene Cox was in a spending mood. Police will be beefed up with new money for reserve constables while dollars for a new court on Court Street was promised in yesterday's budget.