Cuts in cash to buy police vehicles were highlighted by the Shadow Minister for National Security.

Jeff Baron said that the budget for vehicles had been cut to $136,000 from a high of $500,000.

Mr Baron, a former police officer, said the reduction of cash over the years was a “slow shaving”. He was speaking during the Budget debate on national security on Monday.

Mr Baron questioned the allocation “given the public emphasis on overt enforcement in our staggering road safety challenges”.

He said: “I’m just wondering how this budget is planning to equip the Bermuda Police Service with addressing poor, reckless and careless driver behaviour on our roads.

“How are they planning on doing that with $136,000?”

He also asked how many officers were posted to the Roads Policing Unit.

Mr Baron said: “Is it the ministry’s opinion that this number of officers is sufficient to sustain the Roads Policing Strategy?”

The shadow minister said that the BPS motorcycle unit had 12 bikes. He added: “As of this morning, six of them are off the road because we have a police motorcycle course that will last for three weeks.”

Mr Baron said the decreased number of vehicles came as Bermuda experienced “unprecedented issues on our roads”.

Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security, said that the funding for police vehicles “will be reviewed against the actual need for replacement vehicles”.

Mr Caines added: “Funding must match the actual requirements.”