Hamilton Police Station was yesterday roundly condemned as unfit for officers to work in.

In unusually harsh language, Commissioner Lennett (Lennie) Edwards branded the building "really the pits''.

He also slated Somerset Police Station for not being big enough.

And he then warned St. George's Police station would soon need expanding.

It was the Hamilton station, however, which bore the brunt of his fury -- despite Government moves to replace it.

"If you had to walk there you would probably walk out,'' he told journalists at a Press conference over the Police Tumim Committee report.

"I applaud the men and women who go there.'' Mr. Edwards said the building had been "inadequate'' for 14 or 15 years.

"If it was in the private community it would have been condemned a long time ago. This is something which needs addressing.'' Not all the Police buildings, however, came in for such criticism.

Mr. Edwards said buildings at Prospect and the Airport were "first class''.

"We are thankful for small mercies.'' He also spoke of Police hopes of acquiring land when the US Naval forces pulled out of Bermuda in 1995.

Nothing concrete had been settled -- but Mr. Edwards hoped Government would consider Police needs.

The Commissioner's attack yesterday contrasted with general optimism about the Police's future in the wake of the Tumim Report on the Force's community relations.

Mr. Edwards was included in a joint body which looked into the report's 49 recommendations, many of which were being carried out.

On Friday the report received widespread praise in the House of Assembly.

Said Mr. Edwards yesterday: "I was quite pleased the report has been brought to the attention of the public of Bermuda.'' He went on to underline some of the changes taking place in the Police, including using civilians to take on "static'' Police jobs.

This would allow more officers to pound the beat. Mr. Edwards also restated Police commitment to boosting the system of parish constables.

Constables would work out of Post Offices where they could meet people, explained Mr. Edwards.

The public could also leave messages for constables at Post Offices.

"It is a matter of us coming closer to the public. I want to be closer to the public. To have a kinder and gentler approach.'' As part of this approach, Mr. Edwards said he was prepared to review the way officers booked traffic offenders.

This fell into line with a recommendation by the Tumim Committee that more consideration be given to major crime -- and less to minor offences.

Mr. Edwards said a new system of cautioning motorists for minor traffic offences was being examined.

But he told of the pressure Police were sometimes put under to clamp down on speeders.

This was particularly the case after a fatality, he pointed out.

He also refuted suggestions that Policemen set out to entrap people in a bid to reach a quota of bookings.

"I have been in the Police Service 30 years and there never has been such a system.

"I know, however, there is a perception out there that this happens because we have high-profile Policing in the streets.'' He added Police may be "over doing'' their work -- but at least they could not be accused of resting on their laurels and doing nothing.

Mr. Edwards went on to tackle another concern raised by Opposition MPs on Friday.

He rejected allegations of heavy-handed Policing by British and West Indian officers.

There may be occasional examples of expatriate officers "going overboard'' -- but these were the exception.

"I don't think such criticism is overly justified.''