Police will be able to keep track of emergency vehicles and even individual officers through a hi-tech satellite navigation system, it was revealed yesterday.

And computers will be installed in every patrol car to allow instant access to Police records.

Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills said: "The final steps towards digitizing the maps of Bermuda are currently being taken and, when these maps are used in tandem with Global Positioning Systems, it will be possible to monitor the movement of all emergency vehicles, for example and, eventually, of individual patrol officers.'' He added: "A project to replace the current Police records system has commenced and, when completed, it will facilitate the installation of computers in every Police car for instant access to the appropriate databases.'' Mr. Mills -- head of the Civil Service -- was speaking to Hamilton Rotary Club.

He told Rotarians the Civil Service was improving efficiency through new technology, like salary payments being credited electronically and new computerised systems to speed up imports.

Mr. Mills said the Civil Service was committed to training Bermudians for top jobs and had allocated $1.7 million this year alone for work experience for students aiming for professional qualifications -- with the prospect of a job at the end.

Ten bursaries a year were also awarded to students studying courses suitable for a career in the Civil Service -- with degrees where there is a shortage of suitable Bermudians being singled out specifically.

And he pointed out recent legislation guaranteeing equal pay for equal work had been the norm in the Civil Service for years.

Mr. Mills said that, as Bermuda prepares for a General Election, that the Civil Service was pledged to "serve their Ministers with integrity and to the best of their ability'' -- irrespective of who forms the Government.

He added: "It is worth emphasising that the Government of the day must have available to it the services of an efficient, impartial and non-political Public Service.

"It's important to emphasise.. .that the Public Service as such has no Constitutional personality or responsibility seperate from the Government of the day.

"The Service exists to provide the Government of the day with the best possible advice on the formulation of the policies of the Government, to assist in carrying out the decisions of the Government and to manage and deliver the services for which the Government is responsible.'' And he said: "Whatever the political complexion of the Government, I remain confident that the Public Service will continue to discharge its various responsibilities with integrity, efficiency, and above all, with impartiality.'' Mr. Mills added he had often been asked about the implications of a change of Government for the first time since the current Constitutional set-up came into force.

But he said: "Every Government develops its own philosophical identity and out of that its policies evolve.

"It is the role of the Public Service to execute these policies in an efficient and impartial manner.'' Mr. Mills told Rotarians the Island could be proud of a Civil Service which was not "tainted by scandal or corruption.

"Its members embrace men and women of considerable ability, of high integrity and of demonstrated competence.'' SPEECH -- Leopold Mills Graphic file name: LEOM POLICE POL