radically altering its structure and strengthening its ability to fight crime.

More than 80 officers will be put back on the beat, more civilians will be employed, the posts of two Assistant Commissioners will disappear and the fight against drugs and white-collar crime stepped up.

Steps will be taken to improve poor morale among the Police and new initiatives put into place to raise low public confidence in the Service.

Equipment, training and Police buildings will also be upgraded, a new emphasis placed on road safety and the whole structure streamlined to become more efficient.

The objectives are contained in the new Service Strategy for the Force, launched yesterday by the new Police Commissioner, Mr. Colin Coxall and the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Michael Mylod.

"This is no quick fix,'' said Mr. Coxall. "It will take three or four years to put into effect. I believe it creates the path that will take the Service effectively and efficiently to the year 2000.'' He added: "It is vitally important for me to say that nothing I say should be construed as a criticism of previous Commissioners or previous management.'' Mr. Coxall presented his vision for the future of the Service to Cabinet yesterday and to rank and file members of the Service.

He also told the two Assistant Commissioners, who have not been named, and one Superintendent whose job will also become redundant.

The strategy revamps the Service from the top ranks to constables and changes its priorities.

Mr. Coxall admitted yesterday the changes will cost money, but said a detailed proposal would be presented in time for next year's budget, although it appears he will have the cash backing of the Government.

The main plank of Mr. Coxall's strategy revolves heavily around increased community policing and a hoped-for doubling in the numbers of Parish Constables by releasing more officers through civilianisation.

Greater crime prevention also has a high priority and a new central Criminal Intelligence Service will be created to help gather information. Bermuda, he said, was one of the few countries in the world without such a service.

Currently only 14 officers are dealing with drugs and their numbers will be increased as more officers are replaced by civilians. Money laundering and drug profit confiscation squads will be created.

More emphasis will be placed on formal cautioning of motoring offenders and the service will strive to place greater focus on road safety, driver training, road engineering and new technology such as speed cameras and close circuit television.

Training of the 427 officers is to be re-modelled with officers spending time abroad, specialists coming to Bermuda and in-house training upgraded to bring about a change in attitude, provide basic psychology and an understanding of the needs of the Bermuda people.

Frontline uniformed officers will also be trained to take on some investigative work.

Mr. Coxall said the structure of the service is top heavy and two of the three Assistant Commissioner's posts will go, plus one Superintendent.

"I presented the matter to them and they acted quite properly,'' he said.

Annual building maintenance needs to be doubled and $1.5 million invested over the next three years in new technology to improve efficiency.

Last night both the UBP and the PLP welcomed Mr. Coxall's report, saying it provided much to be worked on.

The Hon. Irving Pearman, the Minister for Labour and Home Affairs, said the Government would back Mr. Coxall with cash for the new plan.

"It is a positive move forward. There is now a direction that the Force can follow and the fact that it is being set out so clearly and definitively is good.'' He said earlier reports, including one by Judge Stephen Tumim, indicated that the Government should look at the service provided by the Police.

"Periodically we need this kind of refreshing look. It is not a question of we should have done it earlier. The realisation was there and we acted on that realisation,'' added Mr. Pearman.

Mr. Alex Scott, Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister, welcomed the report, but was more guarded saying, he still maintained that Mr. Coxall should have been brought in as a consultant.

He said his Party would be digesting the contents of the report and would have to wait and see how the plan developed before deciding whether to back cash increases.

"I hope Mr. Coxall's review of the Bermuda Police Service is done from the point of view that this is to be the Bermuda Police Service,'' said Mr. Scott.

Writing in the foreward to his plan, Mr. Coxall says: "The strategy will take some time to bring to fuition but I sense in my officers a desire for change and a willingness to accept the challenge.

"The cost of not undertaking this development work will be very high because there is a very real danger that damage may be caused to business, tourism, public confidence and Bermuda's international reputation.''