Three members of staff from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have approached an independent Government watchdog with concerns about the way the department is being run.

Ombudsman Arlene Brock told yesterday that she advised all three that she did not have the legal power to investigate their claims but that they should go to the Department of Labour and Training. The news comes a day after it was revealed that the Attorney General is looking into ?serious concerns? about the DPP at the request of Government Senator Wayne Caines, the Premier?s Chief of Staff.

Several Government sources also spoke to this newspaper about their unhappiness with the director of the DPP, Vinette Graham-Allen, and her management style.

Ms Brock, an independent official who investigates complaints against the Government, said: ?I can confirm that I received three complaints. I would describe one as an expression of concern. None of them can be complaints to me.?

She explained that under the Ombudsman Act she could not probe personnel matters in Government.

?I told them that their best bet would be to go to the Department of Labour and Training.?

Milton Scott, director of Labour and Training, said: ?It is not our practice to comment on complaints or concerns that our department may be assisting a union or member of the public with.?

A source who asked not to be named told this newspaper yesterday that a ?witch hunt? had been launched to find who had spoken to the press. ?People are huddled into groups, this side for and this side against, trying to find out who could have said what,? said the source. ?Everybody is afraid. Everybody around here is running scared.?

Complaints about Ms Graham-Allen?s management style last year led to former Attorney General Larry Mussenden ordering a civil service review of the DPP.

The results were never made public. Jamaican national Ms Graham-Allen was appointed DPP director in 2004 on a three-year $127,000-a-year contract after serving as a senior and principal Crown counsel.

In an interview after being sworn in by the Governor, she said she was determined to ensure the development of Bermudian staff during her tenure.

Since her time in charge, several Bermudian prosecutors have left the department and there are now no male Bermudian lawyers working there.

Back in 2004, Government House, the Governor?s official residence, issued a statement saying a condition of Ms Graham-Allen?s contract was that she identified and trained a suitable Bermudian prosecutor as her potential successor.

Attorney General Philip Perinchief did not answer questions put by this week as to whether Ms Graham-Allen?s contract ? which runs out in the summer ? was due to be renewed or whether the post would be advertised.

He also would not disclose whether he planned to order a review into discontent in the department, what recommendations were made following the last review, whether any of those had been implemented, whether he himself had concerns or whether any DPP staff had approached him directly with complaints.

Kenneth Dill, the head of the Civil Service, did not respond to a question about whether he had received any complaints.

Bermuda Public Service Union, which represents civil servants, could not be contacted for comment and nor could the Public Service Commission, which advises the Governor on the appointment of staff to the DPP.