There is "an undercurrent of frustration, despondency, abandonment and hopelessness'' among the ranks of Bermuda Police, a committee has found.

And Police internal problems were at the root of troubles between the force and the public, the Police Tumim Committee said in a report tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Set up by Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards to examine "the role of the Police as a public service,'' the committee chaired by Mr. Andrew Bermingham and Mr. Dale Butler turned much of its attention to Police morale problems.

While the public complained about rude and unprofessional behaviour at the hands of Police, "there is an indication that the real problem is not the relationship between the Police and the community, but the relationship between the Police and the Police,'' the report said.

"Although it might be felt by some that we strayed from our terms of reference, it became quite obvious to us that the numerous internal problems faced by all ranks would have to be tackled first, so that the public comes into contact with an officer who feels good about himself, his colleagues, and his job.'' The committee, set up in the summer of 1992 on the advice of the Tumim Criminal Justice Review Board, surveyed both Police and the public. It found evidence of poor management and training techniques and a lack of Police welfare programmes.

"The system is not working for many officers,'' the report said. "Esprit de corps is low.

"The pressure of dealing with the public is nothing compared to the internal stress generated by Police management techniques.'' Among its 49 recommendations, the report called for changes in Police evaluation, transfer, and discipline procedures, an improved Police welfare department, and a new Police station in Hamilton.

Internal discipline cases should be handled more quickly, and Police should be able to have lawyers at their hearings. Officers should know how they were evaluated and have a right of response, the report said.

And "clear guidelines of performance (should) be developed in which the criteria is not solely the issuing of tickets.'' If morale was better, relations with the public would be too. But the committee also recommended Police training in interpersonal skills, courses to help Police deal with hostile individuals or groups, and programmes to improve Police relations with youth.

Accompanying the report was a survey of public attitudes about Police prepared by Mr. Walton Brown Jr. of Research Innovations Ltd.

The survey of 417 Bermudians completed in August of 1993 found a good basis for improved Police-community relations.

About 80 percent of those surveyed felt Police did a good job, while 95 percent felt the force needed more support from the community.

But disturbingly, a majority (55.1 percent) felt Police treated people differently depending on their race. That view was expressed by 70 percent of blacks and 33 percent of whites.

A majority also felt Police treated young people harshly, with 66 percent of young people surveyed saying they received harsh treatment at the hands of Police.

Nearly half (48.3 percent) felt Police abused their power, with the figure rising to 64.6 percent among the young and 60.6 percent among blacks.

Close to two-thirds of those surveyed reported being stopped by Police on a traffic matter, and 55 percent felt Police should place less emphasis on traffic offences.

More emphasis on crime and drugs and less on traffic enforcement was another recommendation of the committee. The percentage of people stopped for traffic offences was "remarkable,'' and on a per capita basis "must be a world record''.

Other recommendations included: removal of the word "Force'' from the name "Bermuda Police Force;'' adoption of a mission statement and Police motto; accelerated promotions for young officers with command potential; video and tape recording of Police interviews; legislation similar to the United Kingdom's Police and Criminal Evidence Act; an independent procedure for investigating public complaints about Police; beefed-up Parish constable and Community and Media Relations divisions; more beat officers; and greater use of the Reserve Constabulary.