Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith yesterday predicted a worldwide security reform in light of the September 11 attacks on the US - and said the private security industry is also likely to grow.

The Police chief was speaking to the Hamilton Rotarians about the affect of the terrorist attacks both in Bermuda, and on an international scale.

He said human security was likely to become the focal point of law enforcement agencies around the globe, and said as a result of the attacks, agencies were now destined to work much more closely with each other.

He said: "September 11 - a day that will become synonymous with a terrorist outrage - has exposed all of us to a suddenly dangerous and unstable global landscape - a new world disorder. Bin Laden, al Qaeda and the Taliban have become words understood by all within the last 28 days. We've become well acquainted with the geography of Afghanistan and human security will likely be the mantra as law enforcement agencies move forward. These new global realities require us to broaden our understanding of security and develop new approaches. I believe the events of September 11 have merely accelerated the changes that were to come and I believe the stock of human security has gone up."

He said human security is likely to go beyond what we may have conventionally thought of. The agenda is likely to consist of:

combatting illegal drugs

combatting transnational organised crime

combatting terrorism

combatting any violent crime

security sector reform

And he said Bermuda was not likely to escape the global trend towards human security. The Commissioner added: "On September 11, we witnessed first hand the first stages in what I believe will be security sector reform in Bermuda. Local security agencies, the Police, Regiment, Reserve Police, Fire Service, airport security Police, Customs, Immigration and private security companies, all worked together on that day, and after.

"No less than eight different security agencies combined to ensure the safety and smooth operation of our international airport in a time of global crisis.

"For the future, I believe that we are likely to work with each other again creating new efficiencies and getting better at protecting our Island.

"I believe that two core trends will emerge from that dreadful day. One, law enforcement agencies and security agencies around the world are likely to galvanise their efforts at one global target - terrorism. And second, there will be a profound re-shaping of intelligence networks at all levels. Since that fateful day, we've already seen law enforcement agencies around the world combine their efforts to detain over 500 terrorist suspects or conspirators. Locally, our own liaison activity with the FBI has grown dramatically.

"We've already seen our intelligence officers having to re-direct their work towards the international counter-terrorist efforts."