New shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz has called for urgent reform of Bermuda's creaking legal system.

He promised to push for implementation of court and police interview recording which had been paid for but still had not been fully implemented.

Tests on taping court proceedings to provide an accurate record began in 2001 but court officials have said there were still problems with noise reduction and amplification.

Mr. Moniz said: "I am not convinced there are technical glitches. There might be some sort of resistance. We need to move forward.

"This has been going on for years now."

And Police began taping interviews with suspects two years ago in the Commercial Crime Unit but the practice, which is designed to ensure courts are given an accurate record, has yet to spread to other departments.

Mr. Moniz attacked this delay and said too often ideas were not followed through and were superficially suggested to make a part of Government look good rather than ensure justice was improved.

Court and police facilities need to be upgraded said Mr. Moniz.

"Hamilton police station is a complete disgrace. That is holding back the administration of justice."

Police morale was also damaged said Mr. Moniz and prisoners were forced to put up with appalling conditions in the cells.

"You try working in those primitive conditions."

He said a new station had been promised for more than 20 years but was still in the pipeline. He said: "In each budget there is a nod in the direction of a new court and police building, saying we will put aside X amount of money but nothing happens."

Financial problems caused by the Berkeley building were draining funds suggested Mr. Moniz.

Before the election the Opposition suggested replacing juries with panels of judges after questioning whether the traditional way brought about convictions, due to the risk of the intimidation of jurors, particularly on drug trials.

Mr. Moniz attacked the way juries consistently watered down the indictments.

But he said the jury system could work and urged a campaign to educate the public about the importance of serving after slamming the way many people shirked their duty.

He said: "I am not keen on jumping on the jury bandwagon and doing away with jury trials.

"Juries in Bermuda are clearly not willing to convict or they are not willing to convict for the serious offence so they convict on the lesser offence. It's a mind set. They are not doing there job.

"We need a substantial programme of public education educating people on their civic responsibilities. People are consistently trying to get off their jury duty. So many people don't want to give anything to public service."

If that campaign failed only then would it be wise to look at magistrate's panels said Mr. Moniz. The Director of Public Prosecution's call for more staff to cope with a huge work load was supported by Mr. Moniz.

But he said the policy of promoting Bermudians within the department would never be the total answer.