Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb has claimed there are too many "corrupt'' officers in the Bermuda Police Service who sometimes "lie and doctor the truth''.

She made the allegation to The Royal Gazette following reports of a confrontation with Police after she was denied a parking space at the Rugby Classic final on Saturday night which she attended in a Government car.

Ms Webb said a Police report into the incident -- which has been seen by The Royal Gazette -- in which an officer claimed the minister said she was "bigger than the Commissioner of Police'', was inaccurate.

She made her allegation of corruption based on the parking row and a recent incident when a speeding ticket she received was dropped because of "procedural irregularities''. Police have so far refused to provide details about the "procedural irregularities''.

Ms Webb told The Royal Gazette last night: "There are many good men and women who serve the Police Service and do a good job, but there's too many corrupt ones. And you can quote me on that.

"Specifically, it is because they lie and/or doctor the truth, in this instance and in a past instance I had with them.

"The speeding ticket was withdrawn because of irregularities. It had to do with the behaviour of Police, it had nothing to do with me.

"Cabinet ministers can't force the Police to withdraw a ticket, nor would I attempt to.

"I spent some time this morning talking to the Commissioner of Police (Jean-Jacques Lemay) to try to get the message to Police about what their responsibilities are.

"Government and Police should be on the same side, although sometimes it appears we are not.'' Police refused to respond last night to Ms Webb's corruption claims.

Ms Webb said she was on Government business in a Government car at the Rugby Classic, but was denied a VIP parking spot at the National Sports Club by a Police officer who said there were no spaces.

Webb charges Police `distort the truth' She parked at Middle Road, but spotted other cars being allowed in afterwards.

She said that as she left later in the company of two other people, she asked an officer, understood to be from the Caribbean, why other cars had been allowed in after her.

A report from a Police officer on the incident states Ms Webb was driving a car with regular licence plates and that as she came out she "lighted into us.

"She said: `You all would not let me in but there was room for six MP vehicles inside. I am bigger than the Commissioner of Police in this country.

If you were back in your country, you would have let in an MP.

"We sensed that this MP was looking for trouble so we refused to pick our teeth to her.'' Ms Webb told The Royal Gazette : "I asked them why did they tell me there was no parking available when there was, and why did they let people in afterwards, and they chose not to respond.

"I was in a ministerial car and acting in a ministerial capacity when I arrived at the gate. I said there was parking available for us. He said he was not informed that there was parking available for us, there was no parking, go down to Middle Road, which I did.

"They told me there was no parking left, the parking was full, and told me to park elsewhere. Fine, I parked elsewhere, that's not an issue.

"While walking to go to the tent, I saw two other cars going in after me. On leaving later I said: `Why did you guys tell me there was no parking available and then let people in after me. The Police officer said no one had told them to let me in.

"I said: `I'm a Cabinet Minister, that should be enough'. When I asked why they were they letting in other people, they never answered.

"What I said was that the Commissioner of Police reports to a Minister, and that's true. The Police are responsible to Government. The Commissioner reports to a minister, I pointed out that.

"I see no problem talking to the Police. They are not a law unto themselves in this country although some seem to think it, and that's what they've got to learn.

"The Government, through the tax-payer, pay their salary. Like I am accountable, the Police are accountable, but some of them think they are accountable to no one.'' She said she was concerned that Police reports were being leaked to the media.

"There is an integrity issue. If I call the Commissioner or an officer on a personal question or a constituency question, they respond and it is their role to respond.

"I don't understand why policemen think not only am I not supposed to ask a question, but also why do they find it necessary to leak it to the media? "They have core values which they are expected to follow and leaking information to the Press could make them subject to disciplinary action.

"Ministers, like anyone else, should be able to ask the Police a question, but to say I was looking for trouble is absolutely ludicrous.'' Renee Webb