New Attorney General Larry Mussenden is keen to have a review of the criminal justice system.

But Senator Mussenden, who only joined the Government in July, cautioned it would have to fit in with other Government priorities.

He told The Royal Gazette: "Any review of the criminal justice system is a positive thing because it would be important to see it at the vanguard of development.

"In other jurisdictions amendments to the criminal code and other legislation that impacts on the criminal justice system comes more frequently than it does in Bermuda.

"We have to look at it in the big picture, a rush to pick on one thing would not be appropriate.

"In the fullness of time Government may consider these things."

He said he was keen to get recording of court sessions going and for the records to be made available.

Before he was appointed AG Mr. Mussenden, who works as a criminal defence lawyer for Wakefield Quin, called for six-month time limits for cases to go to court or else charges should be dropped.

Asked if this was realistic now he was in his new post Mr. Mussenden said: "Maybe that's a reasonable goal to aim for.

"Of course there are exceptions, we will have to investigate and see how it is that we can find the right set of circumstances for a case to reach trial.

"There might not be a defined time limit."

"I am concerned about the length of time it takes for criminal cases to come to trial. I think we can all accept that the court rooms for Supreme Court trials are empty for a lot of the time.

"The whole picture needs to be looked at. There are some valid reasons. There are only so many criminal defence lawyers, as part of that group we have been stretched thin.

"Sometimes we have to be in Supreme Court, Magistrates' Court, Family Court and with our clients. And most criminal lawyers are doing other work as well, not connected with crime.

"You have to sit down in your office or at a weekend when the phone is not ringing and find time to concentrate on one task at a time. There are a lot of areas to see what we can do as far as the justice system."

The 40-year-old has worked in all aspects of the legal profession including stints as a Policeman, a Prosecutor and as a defence lawyer.

Premier Alex Scott said: "He has said he intends to introduce a regimen of timely management."

Mr. Scott added: "Speaking on concern about the overdue debt collection, Minister Mussenden has indicated this is an area that will receive his immediate attention."