Rip-off merchants who fleece Bermudian shoppers face a severe Government crackdown.

A Consumer Protection Task Force has been formed to put more teeth into legislation.

It will review safety of goods, unfair practices, misleading advertising, trade descriptions and debt collection.

And it will study how overseas consumer protection agencies operate.

The Task Force was announced yesterday by Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Yvette Swan.

"Hopefully, its recommendations will take us into the 21st Century,'' she told a Cabinet Office Press conference.

She said she expected a full report in about six months, adding: "It will not be a very long drawn-out investigation.'' Heading the Task Force is 87-year-old businessman and ex-Parliamentarian, Sir John Plowman.

Deputy Chairman is accountant Karen Rawlins, while other members include former Protocol Officer Joan Williams and attorney Leon Williams III.

There are also ex-officio members from the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General's Chambers.

Representing the AG's Chambers yesterday was Cathryn Balfour Swain, a Parliamentary Counsel. Taking on a secretarial role on the Task Force is Community and Cultural Affairs director Henry Douglas.

Sen. Swan said the Task Force would look at making amendments to legislation.

For Government felt current laws had not kept pace with a rapidly changing "producer/consumer environment''.

"It will also study how overseas consumer protection agencies operate in order to make recommendations on how consumer protection in Bermuda can be improved.'' Sen. Swan said the in-depth review was timely because shoppers with problems with the business community were often frustrated by the "lack of teeth'' of the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB).

She pointed out existing consumer legislation had been in effect since 1978.

And the CAB had provided consumers with a reasonably good and workable level of protection.

The changing shopping environment had left the CAB virtually powerless, however, as most consumer-related legislation fell within the area of civil law, Sen. Swan said.

"Consumers have become far more exposed to overseas consumer movements and are demanding a more equitable market place.'' Merchants beware of Task Force Sen. Swan said the CAB had detected areas which needed Government focus, such as the safety of goods.

"If a merchant sells, for instance, an unsafe lawn mower or an unsafe child's toy, Government departments are powerless to act under the current legislation.'' Sen. Swan said consumers' complaints also included the way they were treated and an inability to exchange goods.

She added: "I am pleased to have been able to appoint such a high-level and dedicated committee and am looking forward to implementing their recommendations.'' Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce David Rowntree had also supported the Task Force, said Sen. Swan.

Sir John Plowman said: "I think it's clear this is a factual committee. Our duty is to find out where we are now, what is deficient and if there is any deficiency.''