The Bermuda Police Reserves is looking for dynamic, community-spirited people to join the service in its latest recruitment campaign.

Commandant Eugene Vickers said the reserves now had 130 part-time officers on its books, but he was hoping to swell the ranks by a further 30 in the coming weeks.

He is looking for men and woman between the ages of 19 and 50 who wish to spend some of their time assisting the community. But he said he was particularly interested in attracting those people who wished to become full-time officers with the Bermuda Police Service.

Mr. Vickers said they could spend two years in the reserves, where they will be given a solid grounding, and then they could be passed over to the main Force.

"We are looking for more officers and have just launched a recruitment campaign," said Mr. Vickers.

"We are trying to attract people who are maybe interested in becoming a career officer. They can come on board for a couple of years, and, if they are still interested, then we pass them over to the career side.

"People must have a clean record and a high school education, but we do take non-Bermudians. Expatriate workers are more than welcome to join us."

Mr. Vickers said reserve officers must work at least 150 hours a year in order to receive the annual bounty, but he promised a varied and interesting role. "We work in all uniformed divisions and there are also some specialist divisions we work in, as well," he added.

"Reserve officers have the same powers of arrest as full-time officers, and the same equipment. They also have a 16-week training programme.

"It is a great way to do something different, and also to give back to the community."

Mr. Vickers said this coming October, about 40 reserve officers will be going to the Bahamas to take part in the first meeting of The International Association of Reserve Police Executive.

The group was formed in Bermuda last year when Mr. Vickers and the Bermuda Service hosted the first ever Reserve Police conference, which was attended by a number of different countries. Mr. Vickers was elected chairman of the group, and will go to Bahamas this October with a number of his officers, where a variety of workshops and training programmes will be held.

He said: "We formed this global committee to support reserves around the world. What happens sometimes with reserves is that they are treated as second class citizens, so this group will support the officers and recognise their importance."

Countries from as far afield as Australia, Africa and Canada are part of the committee.

* For more information on joining the reserves, call Mr. Vickers on 299-4442, 515-5436, or 236-0829. Application forms can be picked up from any Police station or the Reserve Police headquarters at Prospect.