Police have been blasted for upping the age limit for new recruits, but demanding older candidates have the same fitness levels as people half their age.

Rejected recruit Gary Hunter twice failed the physical test and says the force is missing out on vital experience by being so strict.

He said: "I spent four years in the US marines, ten years in security work before coming back to Bermuda, where I was hired to do security work for the Bank of Bermuda for four years.

"I have first aid skills and CPR training. How much more qualified do you need to be?'' "I am 44 but you can't expect me to have the same level of fitness as someone who is 34 or 24. It was their policy to increase the age limit to 50.

"I did all the tests and passed them all apart from physical fitness. I came back and they said I'd made a 100 percent improvement but I still hadn't passed. "I thought I'd passed -- I was the oldest guy taking the test but I thought I had done better than all the younger guys and the oldest one there was 35. I have 20/20 vision and my private physician said there was no reason why I couldn't join. And Mr. Hunter denied he was a couch potato. He said: "I am a keen cyclist -- I ride all the time.

He said push ups and situps and running weren't necessary the way to judge fitness. He said: "This is a slap in the face. Police officers I know have said what happened to you Gary? We were looking forward to working with you.

"My question is who would you rather have trying to handcuff a suspect -- a 210 pound male or a 110 pound female? "Other Police officers told me that people failed the test but for whatever reason were allowed to join the academy anyway and to develop the fitness over the 16 weeks.

"But fitness is just a barometer. There's no basis to fail you because you have 16 weeks anyway.

"But I assume someone had to know that if you increase the age then you have got to note the other experiences you have.'' Rejected recruit slams testing You are not going to get a world class athlete but someone who has enough to pass a course. I was disappointed in the result.

"I had an appointment with the Commissioner and he told me there were other guys in a similar situation and they would have to bring in another test to be fair to everybody.

"The test would be more suitable to Police training but then I found out they weren't doing anything different. It was business as usual -- they called me to be retested but I refused.

"When I called the Police service it wasn't because I was out of work. I was working but I wanted to help the community and make a difference.'' Mr. Hunter said his people-skills would be valuable in dealing with young people.

"If I saw a situation when I was younger I would want to bust heads but now I would want to calm down the most agitated person.'' "The Government said they wanted to bring in more policemen but there are people here that can do the job.

"The Commissioner needs to answer to the needs of society. What do people feel about calling the police and getting two 19-year-old female police officers? Around 28 percent of Police officers are female. That's scary.'' "There's no true leadership. Why are we still losing the officers we have?'' Sgt. Michael Jackman of the Police Association said there were many former officers seeking to rejoin who faced the same problems of meeting fitness standards.

He said he had been told the physical tests had been adjusted to take into account age and sex. Those who came within 10 percent of the pass mark could take the test again.

He said: "I don't know how you deal with this. If someone makes a decision to lower the standard then there could be a liability issue if someone suffers a heart attack on the job. Or should you keep the standard as it is set now?'' A Police spokesman said: "The Bermuda Police Service has set a standard for physical fitness to ensure the general health and safety of the Service as well as the personal health and safety of the officers.

"There is also the issue of liability. We cannot require an officer to do what he is physically unable to perform.

"You indicate that Mr. Hunter has had years of experience, and while this is certainly a plus, there are no guaranteed positions within the Police Service in which Mr. Hunter can automatically be placed as a serving officer.'' The spokeswoman urged Mr. Hunter to contact the Police Physical Training Instructor to get help preparing for the fitness test.