Assets seized from criminals by the courts should be allocated to cash-strapped emergency services, it has been claimed.

Michael Dunkley of the opposition One Bermuda Alliance said it was essential that the police, fire service, and the Departments of Corrections and Customs had adequate resources to be properly equipped and staffed.

The Shadow National Security Minister spoke out following complaints from all four uniformed services in recent months that they needed extra funds to upgrade equipment and recruit more staff.

Mr Dunkley said: “While we understand the government is facing a budget crunch, the Ministry of National Security should be supported. To do so the Government should consider using funding in the Confiscated Assets Fund to provide an additional boost as required.”

Mr Dunkley, a former national security minister, pointed out that the ministry had been led by three different ministers in the past three years, which “did not bode well for the security services as they deal with the significant daily challenges”.

He added: “In addition to the recent and well documented issues of manpower and equipment challenges in the BPS, HM Customs, BFRS and Corrections it seems as if the Government has turned a blind eye.

“In regards to manpower, any organisation will have natural attrition and it seems that the Government has failed to factor this into their budget appropriations.

“A government must be aware of any manpower issues but it seems the PLP is not, or does not accept that manpower shortages cause pressing operational issues.

“When questioned in Parliament recently after [national security] minister Weeks delivered a statement on overseas airport firefighters. I asked the minister a question in regards to manpower levels within the BFRS and the honourable member was unable to provide an answer.

“If one does not know where they need to go, how will they get there?

“The One Bermuda Alliance urges the PLP Government to sort out these important matters as Bermuda relies on safety and security.

“These security services have worked hard through the pandemic and played a significant role as we weathered that storm. They need our support especially though tough times.”

The Royal Gazette has been unable to obtain up-to-date information on the Confiscated Asset Fund or if any monies have been distributed to the emergency services recently.

Questions were sent to the Government’s Department of Communications, but no response was received by press time.

But one former police officer said: “Very little goes to the police. It’s siphoned elsewhere. I think the only time we were able to get anything was to fund a financial analyst position.”

According to the latest publicly available figures, the vast majority of proceeds of crime that are recovered by the authorities is used to cover legal costs.

In September 2017, the minister of national security at the time, Wayne Caines, revealed that $4.4 million had been distributed from the fund in the previous five years.

Of that, more than $3.4 million was given to the Department of Legal Affairs, while a further $212,000 was use to pay legal fees charged to the Government by private law practices.

Charities, community groups and sports clubs received a further $667,000 in funding, while the Bermuda Police Service received only $77,350.

Earlier this month, the Auditor-General said that financial statement audits for the fund had not been filed for 11 years.