of community work in Bermuda, according to National Liberal Party chairman Mr.

Graeme Outerbridge.

While Mr. Outerbridge said he supports the idea in principle, he believes it was ill conceived and could have damaged Bermuda's image of protecting civil rights.

Police set up three roadblocks on Monday and confiscated 62 motorcycles which they felt were too noisy or which breaking other offences.

The bikes were taken to the Police traffic compound at Prospect, and some passed on to the Transport Control Department.

Out of those confiscated 49 have now been returned to their owners. Others will be returned after they have been checked thoroughly.

A Police spokesman said that most of the motorcyclists will probably be cautioned, many for tampering with their exhausts to make the bikes louder and able to hold bigger engines.

Police started the campaign as part of the battle to cut down on pack racing and stolen bikes.

But their methods have come under fire from parents and the teenage motorcyclists who said their bikes should not have been impounded.

A number of parents have contacted Mr. Outerbridge who said: "The stolen bike problem in Bermuda is now an epidemic and I am glad to see the Police have tried to take a strong stance to stop it.

"But I believe their methodology has been wrong. It is ill conceived. It is like a tuna fisherman going out to catch tuna using a method which catches dolphins as well.

"I am sure that they were able to stop some bikes that were illegal but it also affected people who were not breaking the law. Just impounding people's bikes without charging them could be seen as a civil rights issue. Or at least it raises the question as to whether Bermuda is serious about civil rights.'' Mr. Outerbridge said that the Police could also face civil actions if they have damaged bikes while loading them onto their trucks. He has had complaints that the bikes were roughly handled during transit.

The NLP chairman said: "The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edwards has been trying to work with the community to solve a number of Policing problems. This contradicts that work and has caused so much complaint that it only undermines it.

"A more constructive way would have been to speak to headmasters and to go to schools where they could meet the teenagers, who have been most affected by the Police action, on a one-to-one basis and point out the problems with their bikes.

"I think the message must have gotten back to the Police by now, and I hear most of the bikes have been returned.'' Minister of Delegated Affairs the Hon. Sir John Sharpe defended the Police action.

Sir John said: "The Police have concluded that tampering with cycles, which results in noise pollution and speed, as well as cycle theft, were getting out of hand, and there should be a crackdown as a means of identifying offenders and reminding the public that people cannot do these things with impunity.

"I understand that there has been some inconvenience and some young people and their parents are upset, but this has to be set against the public interest which is a victim of tampering and theft.

"Hopefully the point has been made and I understand that the Police have been quite liberal with warnings and cautions.

"Perhaps the authorities and the schools need to cooperate in an educational programme in an effort to remind young people to resist the temptations which can get them into trouble.'' Police Community Relations Officer Sgt. John Dale said the campaign would be reviewed to see if the roadblocks would be used in future.