Lawyer Mr. Phil Perinchief said Police interrogation often led to false confessions.

He told a public meeting Police could hold suspects for 24 hours after arrest -- or until the first available court date.

But many officers used the "trick'' of arresting someone on Thursday or Friday. That meant they could detain the person until Monday when the court was next sitting.

"Someone could be held for five days,'' said Mr. Perinchief.

He added such tactics often broke someone's will and led to false confessions.

For instance, a youngster could be told if he did not co-operate with Police he would miss soccer on Sunday.

To Police, co-operation meant responding to questions in the way they wanted them answered, said Mr. Perinchief.

Unfortunately, young people too often talked themselves into trouble in a bid to leave the Police station.

He added: "In that way people's right to remain silent is steadily whittled down.'' Mr. Perinchief spoke at a Progressive Labour Party forum at the PHC Auditorium in Middle Road, Warwick. Also on the platform were Warwick Opposition MPs Dr.

Ewart Brown and Mr. Alex Scott.

They questioned the way expatriate Police behaved, committing their party to the ideal of a Bermudianised force.

Roughly 45 people turned up for the forum, entitled "Rights & Respect: Know Your Legal Rights''.

Mr. Perinchief said many young people were unaware of their rights following arrest.

These included: The right to remain silent; and The right to telephone a lawyer or their parents.

Mr. Perinchief said too often a youngster -- ignorant of his rights -- had talked himself into trouble by the time a lawyer arrived.

His advice was for a suspect to give only his name and address to a Policeman.

Mr. Perinchief, a PLP candidate for Pembroke West Central at the last election, went on to criticise the Police for adopting a "prosecutorial'' role.

Too often, officers wanted to impress their superiors by making arrests.

Warwick West MP Dr. Brown emphasised the importance of distinguishing between peace and quiet.

While Bermuda may be quiet, it was not peaceful since this implied harmony.

"If we are going to have a peaceful Bermuda we have to fix up the relationship between Police and young people, and not so young people. It is not a healthy relationship.'' Dr. Brown spoke of recent problems suffered by a young man arrested by Police investigating threats on the Queen.

The man was interrogated for more than five hours.

Warwick East MP Mr. Scott said Police should be concerned with preventing crime.

Their focus was too much on entrapment and arrest.

Mr. Scott also asked: "Who deals with the Police when they happen to be the bad guys?''