switched off for some time until a code of conduct can be written.

But a separate $210,000 system of speed cameras could soon be installed in problem spots around the Island to ticket automatically drivers travelling past them over the speed limit -- at any hour.

And another $100,000 will be spent on "knife resistant'' gloves and clothing for Police.

Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox revealed the details behind the Police's $35.7 million Budget allocation for the 1999/2000 period in the House of Assembly last night.

The CCTV system of 30 cameras linked to a central Police control room announced last year will not catch criminals red-handed for quite a while.

A draft code of conduct had to be drawn up, circulated, evaluated and implemented before the "action phase'' when the switch would be flicked.

She said no one was more outraged than her about the recent armed robberies but a "common sense and reasoned'' reaction was needed and the solution was not to suddenly bring in battalions of foreign Police officers.

The core functions review of the Police service would be completed by the end of this month when officers may be reshuffled to be more effective.

And further local recruitment drives would be made before the search moved offshore including a $40,000 Budget grant to help potential applicants who were not academically up to scratch meet the required standards. She said the Budget would reintroduce the cadet scheme with a proviso that beneficiaries were committed to a certain term of service with the Police.

But her Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley slammed her repeated references to history and "regurgitation'' of past problems, insisting it was time to "move forward and get on top of things like road rage, before they worsen''.

Mr. Dunkley said he would support the Government in any attempt to cut crime, drugs and traffic offences -- which the public desperately wanted.

He questioned why the Budget cut spending on traffic patrols by $255,000 and the cycle squad by $11,000 when it was widely perceived the roads were more dangerous than ever before.

And he said the issue of bringing in foreign officers boiled down to the current manpower shortage.

"Bermudianisation is a concern but it can't happen overnight and we can't sacrifice safety in the community or allow our Police officers to be so unduly stressed that they are not fully effective,'' he said.

He questioned why $50,000 was allocated in the Budget for overseas recruitment.