recruitment process, Government has 30 new recruits set to begin training this month.

However, while 24 of the recruits are Bermudian, the others are spouses of Bermudians and non-Bermudian residents, marking the first time that they have been allowed to join.

The news came yesterday from Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness who called the move a step in the right direction as the Police required a considerable number of officers to replace those who had left the organisation for various reasons.

"Government has decided there are a number of benefits for taking on recruits who are already on the Island, and I consider this a step in the right direction.'' He pointed out that spouses of Bermudians had ties with the community and non-Bermudian residents were already familiar with the community and its people and could appreciate its lifestyles and traditions.

The policy would also reduce the cost of overseas recruiting and eliminate the orientation that overseas recruits had to undergo upon arriving in Bermuda, added Mr. Edness.

The new policy allows for only 25 percent of a recruitment intake to be non-Bermudian. Applicants must have been residents for at least two years and will be employed on a five-year contract.

Police recruiting opened up "Until we are able to secure qualified Bermudian recruits in sufficient numbers, the addition of non-Bermudian resident officers will help ensure that the Police Service is adequately staffed so that we can fulfil our responsibility to protect the safety of all the people of this Country,'' said Mr. Edness.

And he stressed that Bermudians were wanted for the service and steps were being taken to encourage and enable them to join.

"Even though we have taken this step to recruit spouses of Bermudians and non-Bermudian residents, I want to stress that we want as many Bermudians as possible to join our Police Service.

"While we are pleased that this additional source of Police officers will help the current shortage, we are still looking at ways to encourage more Bermudians to join the service.

"There are a number of young Bermudians who have the potential to make excellent Police officers, but lack the academic requirements.

"The Police are now finalising the details of a programme that will provide the academic training that will enable these young Bermudians to meet the entry level requirements for the Police Service.'' No caption