The Bermuda Reserve Police has a new man in charge who's pledged to increase the numbers to have a more "effective and efficient" service.

Commandant Jerry Robinson took over the post from Huw Lewis last month at a glittering ceremony at the Police Headquarters in Prospect.

The reserves currently have 70 officers but Comm. Robinson is looking to significantly raise that number.

"Our vision is to attract, train and develop qualified and motivated reserve officers who are committed to achieving the highest standard of performance," he said. "My team and I will put our full support behind the Commissioner of Police [Michael DeSilva] and the Minister [of Public Safety, David Burch]."

Comm. Robinson has been a reserve officer for 20 years. His wife Sandy is the highest-ranked female in the reserves.

He joined the service in order to serve the community in a way that would "make a difference".

"I plan to raise the number of officers and raise the standard of discipline and professionalism thus producing a more effective and efficient reserve Police officer.

"I feel my biggest challenge would be increasing the numbers because I'm not sure there is a broad awareness community-wide about the reserves and what we do."

The increase in violent crime has seen the reserve officers called on more often than in the past. As such, Comm. Robinson is looking to boost numbers.

"I wouldn't say we're being called out more in the sense of embodiments, but there's definitely an increase in us being required to assist the Police.

"There aren't enough resources which is why my aim in the first two years is to run a fierce recruitment drive."

His hope is to increase the number of reserves to 150.

"We just put together a video that we're going to be showing in all the theatres, something we have never done before. It's a very dynamic video on the Reserve Police and we're going to be launching that very soon.

"We're also going to do newspaper and radio advertisements and all that. We will also be going to exempt companies and various areas around Bermuda to do power point presentations to recruit and to make people aware of what the reserves do."

Officers have also been attending Harbour Nights in an attempt to drum up volunteers.

"Everybody has to take the entrance exam which is the same as what a career officer takes and then a fitness test," Comm. Robinson said of the entry criteria.

"Everybody has to do the competency exam. You have to get 75 percent. There's also an 18-week course."

Guest workers who are Commonwealth citizens are also eligible to join, he added.

Volunteers should be prepared to commit to two, two-hour meetings a week as well as a weekly hourlong drill practice.

Anyone interested in joining should call 299-4442.