Importing two senior Police officers might save Bermuda "the agony'' that many English forces experienced in modernising their management methods, says the author of a report prepared for Governor Lord Waddington.

Mr. Lionel Grundy, the United Kingdom's senior adviser for Dependent Territory Police Forces, said the 43 Police forces in England and Wales "have been forced for reasons of efficiency and cost effectiveness to really look at their organisations'' and introduce "more modern methods of management''.

"Maybe somebody from here would be able to bring that experience to Bermuda in the short term,'' Mr. Grundy told The Royal Gazette . "Instead of having the agony of having to find out the hard way, you might be able to short cut it.'' In preparing the report presented to the Governor in autumn, Mr. Grundy visited Bermuda for two weeks last summer.

He then recommended that a senior overseas officer be brought to Bermuda to work beside Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards. But Mr. Edwards, who was expected to stay on a further two years, has been in ill health and has since opted for retirement himself.

Now, Government plans to hire a British Commissioner for three years and a Deputy Commissioner for two, while adding a third Bermudian assistant Commissioner. It is expected that a Bermudian Deputy Commissioner will be named in two years and rise to the top post a year later.

"What I'm keen to do, and what I think the Governor and the Government are keen to do, is to ensure as quickly as possible that the management of the Police force returns to Bermudian hands,'' he said. "There's a vacuum at the moment.'' At the same time, Mr. Grundy disputed reports and rumours that the extraordinary move meant that Bermuda's two current assistant Commissioners -- Mr. Harold Moniz and Mr. Wayne Perinchief -- had been found lacking.

While it was true that Mr. Moniz had faced internal discipline proceedings in the past, it was "not recently'', and "not something that would impact'' on his recommendations, Mr. Grundy said. Instead, he understood that Mr. Moniz, 55, would soon be ready to retire himself.

As for Mr. Perinchief, 53, Mr. Grundy said he was not yet an assistant Commissioner when he visited Bermuda last summer. Mr. Perinchief was promoted to his current post from Superintendent effective on June 1, 1994, "almost immediately after my visit'', Mr. Grundy said.

While he did not wish to discuss specific officers, Mr. Grundy noted Mr.

Perinchief was promoted to his current rank "quite recently''. In the UK, "generally speaking, a person appointed a chief officer has to fulfill that post for at least two years before he can be considered for the next rank,'' he said.

"There are exceptions,'' but "you've got to allow a person time to settle into his role.'' Mr. Grundy's report has not been made public.

Interviews are to begin in London today with eight British officers who are on a short list for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner jobs. Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman and Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Willis are to reduce that short list to a shorter one. The hiring decision is then up to the Governor in consultation with the Public Service Commission.