Bermuda. Tuesday's announcements by the new Commissioner of Police, dealing with a major reorganisation of the Police Service, will have reassured the Bermudian public that something is being done. A welcome start, but a start only, has been made.

Any improvement in Police results will take time and it may take an even longer time before any results are noticeable. But, you always have to make a start and we are very impressed by the plans being made and by the Commissioner's announced "service strategy''.

When Commissioner Colin Coxall first arrived in Bermuda he was put "on probation'' by the Progressive Labour Party. We were happy to see yesterday that Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Alex Scott was reserved but at least was quoted as welcoming the report. We can only hope that included in that welcome is some time for Mr. Coxall to show results. He will need time without hassle to concentrate on the work.

The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. John Irving Pearman, has said, "Periodically we need this kind of refreshing look.'' That is true, of course, not just of the Police but of any organisation. It may be now that Bermuda should accept that if a "refreshing look'' is good for the Police Service, the same is probably true of education.

Mr. Coxall has said of the Police: "This is no quick fix. 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.'' It seems to us that one result of Mr. Coxall's arrival has been a welcome change in atmosphere and an expectation that things will get better. Mr.

Coxall seems to be removing the "them'' and "us'' from relations between the Police and the public. It seems to us that already the approach of the Police is less towards the militaristic and more towards service. If that works and brings the crime figures down then it is entirely to be welcomed.

Just the headlines yesterday on this newspaper's stories about the new strategy were encouraging.

"Coxall to put community policing first'' is something the public has been asking for, if only by their formation of their own neighbourhood groups.

"Training `vital' to Police Service'', speaks for itself if for no other reason than that it has been necessary to seek the services of an outside Commissioner. "Civilians could put 83 officers back on the beat'' will be very welcome if being back on the beat means more public Police presence.

"Crime prevention to get emphasis''. Who can argue with that since concern over increasing crime caused this hard look at the Police Service? Two headlines do concern us. "Senior officers get axe'', while it might be necessary, is bound to cause Commissioner Coxall a good deal of grief. It is probably inevitable that the political anger will fly once anyone is axed.

Secondly, "Traffic policy changes'' concerns us simply because the roads are now in such chaos. We would worry that "less focus on ticketing and prosecution'' which Mr. Coxall is proposing might lead to even worse driving habits. Time will tell.

It is never entirely pleasant or entirely comfortable for anyone to admit the need for outside help but it is clear that Bermuda's Police did need such help. Security and stability are of enormous concern to Bermudians who are used to a safe Island.