the state of the Police Service are like fresh air. Anyone who fills a public post and admits that a "fair bit'' of the annual budget is wasted and that there are 50 percent too many senior officers, is a welcome surprise in Bermuda.

Despite the political row before the arrival of the two senior Police officers and the attempts to embroil the Police Service in politics, it is becoming very clear that their real job is to revamp an antiquated Bermuda Police Service. Bermudians know that something constructive has to happen with the Police Service. We have a strong basis for a good service but it needs reorganisation. In the process some eggs will be broken but we hope the public will accept that a major reorganisation of this kind will not be applauded by all those involved nor will it please some politicians who look for cause to complain and who are willing to damage Bermuda to score political points.

There is growing acceptance that the Police Service needed outside expertise.

The Governor's decision to appoint two men from Britain is being vindicated daily and we doubt if any politician or political party would have had the stomach to make such an appointment. The two senior men were brought here despite strong protests because there was a lack of trained talent at the top of the Police Service. They might have done their time, brought along and trained up some possible successors, enjoyed Bermuda and then disappeared back to the United Kingdom. But these are professional men. During the relatively brief time they have in office, two years and three years, they are moving an out of date and rather antiquated Police Service towards the turn of the century. If they can do that successfully, they will have performed a great service for Bermuda.

As the process of remaking the Service goes on not everyone will be happy.

Doubtless there are rows to come. We can hear the shouting now when they begin to deal with the "50 percent too many senior officers'' and when they begin to move desk policemen back to the streets. Mr. Coxall is quoted as saying: "We have to slim down the hierarchal structure and deliver the service unto the streets.'' He also said: "There is only one place for an officer and that is out in the community.'' We recognise the national concern over drugs and crime. We can only applaud Mr. Coxall's determination to work hand in hand with agencies such as the National Drugs Commission in a multi-pronged approach to tackling drugs which he calls the "all-embracing, all-pervading problem''. For a long time the public has expected the Police to "do something'' about drugs and drug related crime and has not always felt that expectations were met. Those expectations exist now more than ever.

There is no magic solution where drugs and crime are concerned but it is reassuring to know that Mr. Coxall is actively concerned about the problem. It would seem that this is not simply a case of redesigning the Police Service but of expanding the community policing of Bermuda. We think the public will be both pleased and reassured.