Bermuda could introduce taped interviews with suspects in criminal cases as early as this year.

But a Police spokesman said yesterday the Service would not be rushing the introduction.

Spokesman P.c. Gary Venning added: "It's got to be thought out properly and the process has to go before the policy committee so a decision can be made on whether it can be used.

"There are also legal implications about whether the tapes could be used in court.

"It's not just a case of sticking a tape recorder in a room -- there are a lot of things which have to be taken into consideration.'' P.c. Venning said the new system of recording interviews could "possibly'' be introduced this year.

But he added: "It's progressing nicely, but I'm not able to give a date at this time.'' The taping of interviews -- using film as well as audio equipment -- was first recommended in the Tumin Report into the criminal justice system in Bermuda in 1993.

Legislation -- the Police Amendment Act 1998 -- allowing for the audio taping of evidence was passed earlier this year.

The new law allowed for two tapes to be made -- one a master copy, to be sealed in the presence of the suspect or interviewee.

And then-Sen. Yvette Swan said that the new system would probably be in place by this April when the Act cleared Senate in March last year.

The previous UBP Government allocated funds for two rooms to be set aside for taping statements and for staff to be trained.

The taping of suspect and witness statements is reckoned to be fairer to Police and those being interviewed -- and to increase accountability.

Taping protects statements from being tampered with -- and makes it more difficult for accused people to later claim the statements were false or forced out of them.