Police are recruiting in the United Kingdom for an Assistant Commissioner with gang experience.

Government Senate Leader David Burch yesterday revealed Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva is currently abroad hoping to fill the position.

And officers will get the chance to be trained by the New York Police Department and the FBI, Sen. Burch told senators during the Labour, Home Affairs and Housing budget debate.

He said: "The Commissioner is currently abroad interviewing an Assistant Commissioner for crime. I will have more to say about that later.

"Before he returns he will meet with the New York Police Department and will go to Washington DC. We are not promoting from within but want to get someone with more experience especially with gangs."

The Police budget will see a rise of 8.53 percent or an additional $3.9 million this year up to $65.7 million.

The vast majority of the increase will be eaten up by salary and housing allowance payments awarded by the Permanent Police Tribunal in 2008.

Opposition Senator Jeanne Atherden asked why the increase had not been budgeted for.

"It was budgeted for, but there an extortionate in my words pay award and housing allocation that was not budgeted for by the tribunal," said Sen. Burch.

"There was a cost of living [increase] but the award was over and above that. This is one of the reasons I am fighting against the combined allowances as pension because that would add an extra $7 million to the public purse.

"It would be unlawful."

Last November, the Court of Appeal quashed part of the Bermuda Police Association's (BPA) arbitration award by the tribunal.

Government challenged the award because it classed officers' 'combined allowance' — which amounts to ten percent of their pay — as a salary supplement. That would make it part of their pension.

Government does not want the allowance to be classified as salary and to be pensionable, as it would cost millions in extra pension payouts.

Instead, it wants it treated as an allowance only, which means it is not pensionable.

The Court of Appeal has granted the BPA the right to take the matter to the Privy Council.

Sen. Burch said $100,000 has been allocated for 24-hour surveillance of CCTV. The footage has helped Police collect information not only about those committing the crime, but those that witness them.

"The allotment that we made, I think six months ago, to provide 24-hour monitoring comes at a fairly stiff cost.

"The last shooting in the city. they provided excellent intelligence to the Police in terms of ID's. They have called for the support of witnesses and from the CCTV they are able to find them and then find out what they know it would be a quicker and easier route if they just came forward.

"[But] there's been no discussion with the ministers about CCTV. There needs to be a discussion because they can put up the cameras but we have to operate them."