A full time occupational health officer and a policy committee, are some of the ideas new Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall is considering for the Bermuda Police Service.

"I really don't want people to think that I have come to Bermuda with a blueprint,'' he said " ... I really want to see what the priorities and imperatives are within Bermudian society and how I can assist to improve the Force on behalf of its community.'' Mr. Coxall said he wants to solicit a broad cross section of the community before any definite measures are taken using a "consultative management style''.

Among other things, he has promised to be more accessible to the public through the media so that they can be informed of any changes within the Force including its direction in broad terms.

And he wants to introduce a full time occupational health officer who will advise Police personnel on everything from fitness to handling stress. This is part of the new "ethos of fitness'' he wants to establish.

"I would like to start on a voluntary basis by encouraging officers to watch their weight and keep themselves physically fit,'' he explained. "I also want to have a meeting with the Force's medical team to look at the state of the health of the Force.'' Mr. Coxall will be Commissioner for just a week on Thursday, but he has already made courtesy calls to the Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, the Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward and Attorney General Mr. Elliot Mottley.

He has also met with senior Police officers and has completed a tour of all buildings the Police operate, including the central, eastern and western stations.

Mr. Coxall said his primary goal for the next six months will be to set up a policy committee of senior officers.

"I will chair this committee,'' he said. "It would be made up of the most senior officers. The deputy commissioner, the assistant commissioners and superintendents, so we can take the organisation forward in a structured way.

"We would be looking at objective setting and ensure that all tasks relate to the overall Force objectives. In this way we will be able to measure the performance of the Force against these objectives.'' Mr. Coxall said he would also be examining community policing because this is an essential plank in making the Force more involved in prevention instead of merely reacting to crime as it happens.

"Crime Stoppers as a concept is something I agree with,'' he continued. "I will study the system that is being introduced in Bermuda, but on the whole I agree with the concept of Crime Stoppers because it is based on the community joining together to help itself.

Mr. Coxall is yet to find a home in Bermuda but he is hopeful that this matter will be resolved soon.

He is married with two daughters and has an Honours Degree in Law from King's College at the University of London. He was born in Surrey and began his career in 1959 with the Metropolitan Police.

Since 1989, he has served as Assistant Commissioner of the City of London Police, a post equivalent to Deputy Commissioner in Bermuda.

He received the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service in 1993.