to retain top efficiency. It is not unusual for such an organisation to begin an almost imperceptible decline, a slippage of efficiency and a decrease in effectiveness. That happens in the private sector and in the public sector. If a decline is allowed to continue, it leads to poor morale among the staff, a "who cares'' attitude, a widespread slackness, the end result of which is major inefficiency.

We think that is what had happened over a long period of years to the Bermuda Police Service. The service had become outdated in terms of equipment, inefficient in its methods and slow to respond to the needs of a sophisticated public living in a tourist resort which by its very nature needs to be safe and secure.

We do not think the decline was necessarily anyone's fault even though it took place under Bermudian Commissioners of Police. It did not happen overnight or on anyone's "watch'' but was a progressive deterioration because the Police Service needed new ideas, new energy and someone to take hold of it and give it a good shake-up. Public organisations, banks and big business and large retailers go through the same process and a number of them in Bermuda are going through it right now.

"The powers that be'' in Bermuda were awakened to the Police problems by public disquiet over what was perceived as a crime wave. The public made it very clear that they wanted Bermuda to be well policed and they wanted crime controlled. It is fair to say that not all of the Police Service problem was a human one. During the recession the Police Service budget had been cut just at a time when financial and unemployment pressures on the public were quite naturally going to turn some people to crime.

However, Bermuda was getting international publicity in direct contrast to its reputation for supplying safe vacations. Safety was a major factor for visitors who were reluctant to travel to resorts where they were basically confined in holiday compounds. People came to visit Bermuda because it was safe and because there was no obvious poverty.

It became essential for both Bermudians and visitors that Bermuda be well policed. The solution was to bring in experienced people, good at organisation, who could put in place modern policing systems to get Bermuda's Police Service back in top shape.

What took place was not an attempt to thwart Bermudian Police officers as is being claimed by the Progressive Labour Party's Alex Scott, but a sensible and successful effort to give Bermuda what the people wanted, better policing. The "proof of the pudding'' is that crime figures are down and without reorganisation they might well have continued to increase.

Given the limits placed on Bermuda by its small population, there will always be times when we have to call on outside expertise. If completing this difficult job, during which he has been continually harassed by PLP politicians who damage the Police while claiming not to be soft on crime, takes Commissioner Colin Coxall longer than the initial three years, then so be it. We think Bermuda is very fortunate to have a man of his talents here, and that he deserves better support. He should be allowed to get on and finish the job. We can only hope that the PLP will start behaving in the best interests of all Bermudians.