Government plans to spend a massive $23 million on building a second Police Station and Magistrates' Court in the centre of Hamilton.

And a further $1.35 million has been set aside to develop a separate drugs court to deal with addicts who need help to kick their habit.

Yesterday's Budget announcement promises a massive overhaul of the Police and judicial infrastructure.

As well as the new Police Station and court, which are set to be built on the corner of Court and Victoria Streets at a total cost of $20 million, a further $450,000 is to be spent renovating the St. George's Police barracks.

And the Government also plans to eventually spend $1.85 million renovating the Police headquarters building at Prospect and St. George's Police station.

Yesterday's Budget statement did not provide the total amount of funding needed to complete the new facilities, which will be built over a number of years. And, although the total cost of the revamp is estimated at about $25 million, that figure is "based upon preliminary concepts which may change as the scope of the project becomes more clearly defined''.

Instead, Finance Minister Eugene Cox yesterday set aside $2 million for preliminary work on the new station and court facility to get underway and a further $450,000 for the St. George's Police barracks. He also said that $450,000, set aside from last year's Budget, would be used to commence work on a Prisons Halfway House "in support of this Government's Throne Speech pledge to make the establishment of such a facility a priority''.

Funding for the facelift of Police headquarters and the St. George's police station has not been allocated for in this financial year.

Pointing out that the total budget for the Department of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety had increased by $1.3 million on last year, Mr. Cox said: "Respect for the judiciary and its facilities is a significant plank in the Government's proposals and, as part of the Government's long term capital plan, a new facility is to be constructed at the parking lot at the corner of Victoria and Court Streets. This will house new court rooms designed for improved security and with modern facilities, as well as a new Police Station to serve Hamilton.

"The Police deserve purpose built facilities rather than their much renovated, inadequate current location. $2 million is allocated to commence design work in 199 9/2000.

"Further work will be done on Police facilities in St. George's, as $450,000 will be spent on remodelling the Police barracks.'' Separate to the new court, Mr. Cox allocated $1.35 million to the National Drugs Commission to set up a second judicial facility, a specialised drugs court.

"Mr. Speaker, this Government supports the initiative of the National Drugs Commission in its attempts to establish a drugs court in Bermuda,'' Mr. Cox said.

"This shows evidence of attempting to deal with individuals in difficulty as well as tackling the drugs problem head on as we promised to do in our platform. $1.35 million is allocated to the NDC specifically for this purpose which will enable staff to be taken on to administer their programme, a magistrate to be hired, premises to be rented and attendant testing programmes to be set up.'' Last night Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said the budget would "give the Police what they need and also what Bermudians need in terms of Bermudians in the Police Service''.

"I think the Police facilities have been in a state of some concern not only for the Police but for the community,'' Ms Cox said.

"We are trying to re-address some of the things that have been put on the back burner. We are going to see some interesting initiatives -- you can't just take care of the ideas, you have to take care of the specifics -- and I think this budget is people focused.'' Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley said he would need time to study the document in detail before making any comment.

New site: This carpark at the corner of Victoria and Court Streets has been slated for Hamilton's `back-of-town' Police station.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA