as Premier, it was claimed yesterday.

And the former Island top cop is alleged to have said that she was "a bad choice because she brought with her a lot of baggage.'' The shock claim -- in a anonymous letter claiming to be from an ex-Police officer -- was revealed by Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott.

And Mr. Scott said afterwards he would be speaking to Progressive Labour Party leader Jennifer Smith about setting up a meeting with Governor Thorold Masefield to discuss Mr. Coxall's tenure on the Island.

Mr. Scott produced the letter, sent to both he and Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, as the House of Assembly debated a new piece of legislation designed to give rank-and-file Police officers more clout in negotiating pay and conditions.

Afterwards, Ms Gordon admitted she had heard similar claims about Mr. Coxall from others.

She said: "I had heard that he had a bias against me -- but I'm unwilling to put credence or credibility to it.

"If he had a problem, I would have expected him to be direct, but I can't go on third hand information.'' The letter writer alleged that Mr. Coxall "concocted'' crime figures during the first 18 months of his Island career to show himself in a favourable light.

And he added: "Any officer who was so daring as to question how the figures were put together was often talked about outside of that officer's presence in a very derogatory manner by Mr. Coxall.'' The letter added that a P.c. -- claimed to be part of an "exclusive club forming one half'' of the force's drugs squad -- had been allowed to make public statements critical of the PLP.

It added that the officer was later promoted to Sergeant "rather than being put on a charge.'' And Mr. Scott said the writer claimed that Mr. Coxall had met regularly with David L. White, Editor of The Royal Gazette and that the then-Commissioner had been known to boast that the newspaper "would always write favourable articles about him.'' But Speaker Ernest DeCouto snapped: "We are talking about the history of the Police Service -- I don't want to hear that.'' And he pointed out that the letter had been written anonymously and had to be viewed in that light.

But Mr. Scott said outside the House that the letter, which he tabled, appeared to show that Mr. Coxall had overstepped the Constitutional mark. He added: "This is what the letter appears to be suggesting, even if he doesn't out and out say it.

"The writer seemed to be well-informed about matters relating to the Police.'' Mr. Scott added: "Making Mr. Coxall Commissioner has set in train problems we haven't heard the end of.

"We put down questions relating to Mr. Coxall and the Irving Pearman affair, but Parliament, through the Clerk, has rejected these questions.'' Environment Minister Mr. Pearman was caught up in the undercover drugs-busting Operation Cleansweep after cheques written by him were found in the possession of two men arrested during the swoop.

Mr. Pearman said the cheques were for work around his home and denied any involvement in drugs. He was never charged with any offence.

Mr. Coxall quit the Island shortly after the row, but both Government and Governor Thorold Masefield denied his decision had anything to do with the Pearman controversy.

But Mr. Scott said: "We are now going to take the next step and go to the Governor to see if we can get some answers.'' During the House debate, Mr. Scott quoted Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness as saying that Mr. Coxall had discussed an extension to his three-year contract with him. Mr. Scott said: "That should never happen -- Mr. Coxall as Commissioner was answerable only to the Governor.'' Pamela Gordon