The Police deserved more than their $5.1 million budget increase because most of it was due simply to pay increases and housing benefits.

That was the complaint from the Opposition yesterday as the House of Assembly debated the $65.7 million budget for the Police service.

The figure is up 8.53 percent on last year, but $3.9 million of the increased spending will be eaten up by salary and housing allowance payments.

As Junior Minister for Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Walter Roban detailed the figures for each department. He explained many of the funding increases as "due to funding of the pay award and the allocation of the housing allowance".

Detailing the current staffing levels, he told the House that the Police established strength as of April 1, 2010 will be 477 officers. However, ten posts are currently unfilled, and not funded.

Just over half the Police officers 52 percent are Bermudian.

There are 22 established Police cadet positions, of which just six are funded. The service has an established strength of 114 civilian support staff, but eight posts are unfilled and therefore unfunded.

The Bermuda Reserve Police has an established strength of 184 but is lacking 110 officers from that number. Their budget has also been decreased by $74,187.

The Serious Crime Unit has a $2 million, or 18 percent increase in funding compared to last year.

And $1 million has been allocated to the first phase of the replacement of the outdated Police computer system. Mr. Roban said this would assist with records management, and intelligence projects that are key to the day to day work of the service.

Trevor Moniz of the United Bermuda Party said he was concerned that "it was mentioned over and over again, talking about the Police pay award and the housing allowance accounting for much of the increase that we see in funding for the Police service".

He noted those increases were necessary due to the new Police pay award and housing allowances, negotiated after the Police spent several years working without a contract due to unsuccessful negotiations.

But he added: "The increase in this area was really just a necessary increase on that side and we need much more than that. In my view we need to go much further than that. We notice that there are a number of posts which were stated not to be funded."

He said that basically meant the post is unfilled.

"I think we need to look at that more closely," he commented.

While Progressive Labour Party backbencher Terry Lister praised the increase in funding for the Police force he hoped policing could be increased in the Western end of the Island.

He said: "Today we have a crime issue. I am almost embarrassed to admit that according to the Police records the West end has the second highest rate of crime."

And Mr. Lister added that while having the second highest crime record, the Western end of the island received $5.5 million versus the $6.7 million received by the Eastern end.

Manpower is also higher in the Eastern end with 71 officers and the Western end has 59.

He added: "I wish it was revised, but these are the realities."

PLP backbencher Randy Horton hoped that increasing the roads policing support by $307,000 this year would draw attention and stop the recklessness on the roads.

He said: "Every half a mile you ride our beautiful stone walls have been knocked down. That comes from people not respecting the safety of the roads."

Wayne Perinchief, PLP backbencher, praised the work of the new Police Commissioner adding that he hoped he would bring back the Police street teams.

He said: "I hope he will bring back the street teams. They did work; they do work because like any marketplace there has to be vendors and suppliers and if the Police are on the streets the drug dealers will find it more difficult."

While Opposition leader Kim Swan praised the minister for cutting back on the budget while there was scope to ask for more.

He said: "The $65.7 million was less than in 08 to 09 where $71.6 million was dedicated for this head. So there is still some scope where the Police need some resources to do some increased work."

Continuing the debate, Independent MP Darius Tucker asked whether the marine police were trained to navigate Bermuda's waters and if the canine unit's dogs were able to sniff-out firearms and explosives. He said: "What if any of the dogs have the ability to sniff for arms of any of the explosive equipment that we may have? And what if any formal training is going to take place for the main section to better maneuver through the waters of Bermuda?"

Mr. Roban said the Marine Police will be entering a new training programme in April this year and some of the dogs are trained for these areas and some are not.