Negotiations between Police and Government over pay and conditions have broken down after officers accused the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs of taking an obstinate position.

Talks have been on-going since April and have centred mostly around pay, although the poor working conditions officers endure have also featured heavily in the debate between the Bermuda Police Association (BPA) and the Public Safety Ministry.

The negotiations have been to decide a pay increase for officers for the period between October 2001 and October this year.

The association claimed Government said there was no useful purpose in continuing the discussions as it had repeatedly said it would not meet the pay demands of the association.

The issue is now being referred to conciliation under the provisions of the Police Amendment Act.

Police association chairman Carl Neblett said: "The negotiating team of the Bermuda Police Association has tried very hard to reach an agreement with the Bermuda Government.

"Unfortunately, it would appear that the Bermuda Government, at this time, is not willing or is unable to reach a complete agreement with the Bermuda Police Association on all the outstanding issues.

"At this juncture, although there are still non-financial issues outstanding, it would appear the main issue of contention is in relation to the increase in pay that is properly due to the service."

However, he said the BPA would go to conciliation, and, if necessary, arbitration, with an open mind and in the hope that Government would move from its "recalcitrant position" that it had exhibited in recent discussion sessions.

BPA secretary David Kinnersley refused to say what pay demands the association had made, but said the last increase was received by officers in 1999.

And Mr. Neblett added: "It seems ironic that Government appears unwilling to reach a compromise settlement for a two-year contract that has in fact already expired and this does not bode well for the discussions that would normally have soon followed in relation to the 2003-2005 contract period.

"Indeed, the Government's apparent unwillingness to recognise that Police officers are woefully underpaid, against the backdrop of the deplorable physical conditions out of which the service currently operates, is a position that it would be in the best interests of the general public to see changed if the country is to continue to enjoy the current high standard of policing and public safety."

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Randolph Horton said he was hoping an agreement could be reached soon.

"There has been an inability to come to a resolution at this point, and, according to the Police Amendment Act, we have decided that we would go for a conciliation, so, therefore, the matter is going to be referred to the Labour Relations Officer.

"Certainly, pay is one of the factors involved."

The Minister refused to say what increase the association had asked for, and said he would not divulge what the Ministry had offered.

But he added: "What they are asking for is certainly what we don't think we can give.

"The reason we are going to conciliation is that I'm hoping we will be able to have a resolution. There are 14 days to go to conciliation, but that period could be extended if the parties are coming close to an agreement.

"After that it would go to arbitration."