Police are to mount a ring of steel around the polling booths on Election Day, with more than 200 officers on duty.

Bermuda's top Policeman, Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay, revealed mobile patrol units would also be deployed around PLP headquarters on Court Street and UBP headquarters on Chancery Lane.

He said the specialist units would respond to any trouble flashpoints around the Island as the results come in.

They will add to the security operations of at least 60 Police, three at each polling station, to keep Election Day peace.

Mr. Lemay also confirmed for the first time that several Island politicians had received telephone death threats in the run-up to the November 9 poll.

It is understood Police chiefs are still taking intelligence from Special Branch on key political activists who may start trouble on election night.

Police are already piecing together a "contingency plan'' in the event that post-poll celebrations get out of hand.

Mr. Lemay revealed security operations had also been "stepped up'' for leading politicians in the wake of the death threats, with several suspects thought to have made the calls from around the Island.

He stressed security forces did not expect riots or serious trouble, whoever forms the next Government.

But Mr. Lemay added: "If we weren't ready, I would be held accountable. Our job is to protect life and property. That is exactly what we will do.'' Mr. Lemay would not confirm whether or not the telephone conversations of Premier Pamela Gordon and Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith were now being taped by Police.

He said revealing other details -- like who received the calls, how many calls were made and which parties the targeted politicians were from -- could jeopardise security arrangements already put in place.

"We take these things very seriously and that's why we remain tight-lipped,'' he said. "We are dealing with threats against individuals and we are concerned that these threats may in fact be carried out.

"Sometimes the telephone calls are not that specific. They may imply certain things or there may simply be a comment.'' He said officers were analysing the calls "to see if there was a pattern emerging''.

"We are talking about a number of suspects but not a large number of suspects,'' said Mr. Lemay, who stressed that none of the callers made bomb threats.

Security tight for Election Day "The indications we have are that these calls were made locally.'' He said Police were "gathering as much information as possible with regard to what's happening on the streets''.

"We need to see whether or not we can anticipate any type of disturbances or problems,'' he added. "We do not expect any problems. But we are responsible for the security of the country and we have to have contingency plans in place in the event that certain incidents do flare up. We are prepared for that.'' An operational commander for election day duty will be appointed later today.

All 130-plus Police Reserves have been called up ready for action.

And officers will also attend special briefing sessions before going out for Election Day patrols, to be warned not to aggravate any potential flashpoints.

Extra Police will also keep tight security on the advance polling days -- at St. Paul's AME Church on Court Street on November 2, at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on November 4 and at St. Brendan's on November 5.

Police cars will be used to move polling boxes to rest homes and help returning officers shift equipment from polling booth to polling booth.

And on November 9, Police will be posted at polling station entrances, exits and car parks.

They will stand as sentries across a seven-metre line outside the doors, which candidates cannot cross unless they are voting.

There is also a 50-metre radius exclusion zone around each station, stopping groups from congregating on the day.

"We will be directing resources wherever they are needed,'' added Mr. Lemay.

"It is better to be prepared in the event that something does erupt somewhere.''