A magistrate this week refused to proceed with a case after realising there were no Police officers in the court building.

"I could get threatened or even killed,'' Magistrate Edward King said as he suspended a sentencing of two teens for shopbreaking and waited for a clerk to find an officer.

Mr. King was in the process of dealing with the sentencing of Andrew Christopher Warren and Derek Jermaine Caines on Wednesday afternoon when he noticed there was no officer on duty in his courtroom.

He sent a clerk to go and look for one and said: "This session is suspended until someone arrives to protect me and everyone else.'' A few minutes later the clerk returned, saying: "There are no Police officers in the building.'' Mr. King was astonished and said the teens would have to come back to court another day.

However, Crown counsel Larry Mussenden intervened, requesting that the session not be delayed "in the interest of convenience''.

Mr. Mussenden offered to go across the street to the Hamilton Police Station and find an officer.

He returned a few minutes later and court resumed as scheduled.

King fears for his life Caines, 18, of Sylvan Dell Road, Paget and Warren, of Cherry Hill Park, Paget, were both ordered to do 80 hours of community service, after admitting breaking into Brenda's Poolside Diner and stealing $10.75 and a soft drink.

Public Safety Minister Paula Cox was not available for comment. But Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley expressed his concern over the court incident, saying it was further evidence of the Police manpower shortage that is currently afflicting the Island.

He demanded to know why more officers were not on duty in court to protect personnel.

"This is a huge concern,'' Mr. Dunkley said.

"A Police presence is necessary to protect not only the judge but everyone in the court system, including defendants and witnesses.'' "I believe it's necessary to have an officer in the building at all times.

Certainly that's the minimum of security, service, and protection we need to provide to everybody in the courts,'' Mr. Dunkley added.

"This particular instance is further evidence of the general manpower shortage and, if you cast a wider scope, it has the potential to affect every sphere of our lives.'' Mr. Dunkley said the problem of Police shortages had simmered for some time and he wondered what was its effect on morale within the Service.

"Are we suffering in other areas within the Service? It has to be a bigger concern,'' he said. "I'm not coming down on officers but the fact is if you are short on manpower you can't do the job.'' Police spokesperson Evelyn James-Barnett admitted to the existence of a staff shortage in the Prosecutions Department and said: "I want it to be made clear that we are dealing with it as best as we can right now.'' Mrs. James-Barnett explained that the shortage was exacerbated by the fact that so many officers were on sick leave or vacation.

She added: "We did try to fill up the gaps by taking some of the regular officers away from the watch.

"There was some coverage but, from yesterday's (Wednesday's) incident it seems that it was not complete coverage.'' Mrs. James-Barnett added: "There are some Police duties that the public take for granted and I want to make sure that people know we are making our best efforts to correct the manpower shortage.'' She said there was a whole batch of new recruits beginning training this week just for that purpose.

But Senior Magistrate Will Francis gave quite a different opinion to that of Mr. King, who will not preside over a hearing without an officer on duty.

Mr. Francis said: "I can't speak for Mr. King but I don't consider every case to warrant the presence of a Policeman.'' He added: "I've been a magistrate for ten years and I've never actually been in a situation when Police action was necessary in court.

"Clearly there are certain times when it is necessary. But I sincerely hope we haven't reached the stage when we have to have an armed bailiff in every courtroom.''