Police have insisted they need extra cash in next February’s Budget to boost the number of officers, the national security minister has revealed.

Renee Ming said cuts to police resources this year had been “unfortunate” and asked for a boost to law and order spending.

Ms Ming explained that the Covid-19 crisis had forced a Government-wide review of spending.

Ms Ming was pressed on police funding in the wake of the Throne Speech and demands by the One Bermuda Alliance for more money for law and order.

She said: “The Bermuda Police Service generally put forth their budget and I can tell you that they have requested additional officers in the upcoming Budget.”

Ms Ming said: “I think that across the government as a whole the Minister of Finance has had to make a decision on some of the budgets.

“And it’s unfortunate, but there was a slight reduction in the Bermuda Police Service budget.”

She added: “Would I love for my ministry to have additional funds? My answer would be yes.”

The police service falls under Rena Lalgie, the Governor, but the budget for the service is set by the Government.

Cole Simons, the Leader of the Opposition, used his response to the Throne Speech to highlight an upsurge in gang related gun violence and called for more money to combat crime.

The estimated police budget for 2021-22 was cut to $61,298,000 in the Government’s key financial statement earlier this year.

That was down from the revised level of police spending of $61,443,000 in 2020-21.

The 2019-20 police budget was $64,220,000.

Police have had to deal with an upsurge in gun crime over the last year, as well as an increased number of serious road accidents.