A staff crisis in the Police force has led to a shocking rise in armed robberies, according to the Shadow Public Safety Minister.

The United Bermuda Party's Michael Dunkley claims the Police are understrength by between 20 and 75 officers.

And he has repeated his claim Government should start recruiting foreign Police to bring the force back to full strength.

The Royal Gazette revealed on Wednesday that overtime had cost the Police an extra $500,000 last year -- because the undermanned force has to get officers to fill in for extra duties.

Now the Police say Bermuda has suffered 16 robberies in the first three months of 1999, compared with just three robberies during the same period last year.

Mr. Dunkley added: "These issues are of paramount concern to me. One thing we all need to realise right now is that there's no doubt the Police are experiencing a severe manpower shortage.

"I'm pretty sure that it's between 20 officers and 75 officers. There's no doubt in my mind that it's a large number.

"Even under the previous UBP Government we looked at what we were going to do to improve that situation.

"But unfortunately, since the PLP's come into power, the situation has gone on and on and on.'' He added: "Now there are robberies not only in groceries but in the privacy and in the comfort of our own homes.

"I believe that's because the Police are understaffed and things are being put to one side while they attend to things they feel are more urgent.'' Mr. Dunkley urged Public Safety Minister Paula Cox to wrap up her core functions review of the Police Service.

And he said the need to reduce armed robberies had now become an urgent priority.

"But we need to make these decisions on manpower shortage before we can even think about how to stop armed robberies.'' He also criticised Ms Cox's plans for an Island-wide recruitment drive.

"That's not going to work,'' said the Devonshire South MP. "The simple fact is that the economy of Bermuda is quite healthy at the moment and that means there will be difficulties attracting labour.

"We will not recruit the numbers necessary. We are dreaming -- we are not facing reality.

"We need to recruit some experienced, qualified officers from overseas and recruit on the Island at the same time.'' Meanwhile, detectives are still investigating five armed robberies all in the last month.

Chief Insp. Carlton Adams, heading the inquiries from the Major Incident Room, said a man had been arrested in connection with the handgun raid at Empire Grocery last Saturday.

He said no details of the arrest could be made public.

The top officer confirmed Police had made several arrests in connection with robberies in the first three months of the year.

But the armed bandits who struck at the Van Buren gas station in Flatts and the Garden Market grocery store in Devonshire are still on the loose.

Police are also still hunting the masked knifeman who held up Belvin's grocery store in Devonshire on Tuesday night.

Ch. Insp. Adams added: "In 1995 we had 31 robberies of varying classes and in the first quarter this year we have had 16, compared with three from last year. So it is a cause for concern.

"But our advice to the public is not to attempt to take the law into their own hands.'' Michael Dunkley