The stabbing of a Police officer early yesterday morning while trying to arrest a man has sparked serious questions about the number of officers out on the streets and the Police policy on handcuffing.

At 2.45 a.m. in the vicinity of the Esso City Service Centre on Richmond Road in Pembroke, Police officer veteran Sgt. Ron Beech, 49, who was travelling in a marked Police car chased after two men who were riding a small red bike.

Police reported that the route of the chase led the officer north along Par-La-Ville Road, to the roundabout by The Royal Gazette then onto Serpentine Road east past the Donut House and onto Church Street.

From there the vehicles turned north onto Court Street and eventually west onto Ewing Street into the wrong lane.

"On Ewing Street the rider lost control of the cycle and collided with the curb. The pillion passenger fled from the scene and the officer arrested the rider.'' However, as Sgt. Beech escorted him to the Police car, the rider stabbed the Policeman twice in the chest area, got back on the bike and rode away. A man has since been arrested and is in custody "assisting with enquiries''.

Sgt. Beech managed to radio for help and was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he has been listed in stable condition.

As a result of the attack the Bermuda Police Association issued a statement saying that Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall's strategy plan, for the Bermuda Police Service to have an increase in the amount of officers on the street, "cannot come fast enough''.

Chairman of the association Sgt. Dale Thornton said: "The Bermuda Police Service has in recent years been sapped of its main resource -- the uniformed Police officer at street level -- through various political security positions which deny our younger members the valuable experience they require in their early days of Police Service.

"And moreover through the reductions of manpower in the service during the past five years.'' He added: "The incident that occurred on Ewing Street last night was a situation waiting to happen, the saving grace being, that it was not a fatal attack, and we can now say "I told you so.'' Sgt. Thornton added that the association has been appealing to management for a number of years for restructuring, and while their input appears to have "fallen on deaf ears'' until recently, they are overly aware that the situation has not been readily addressed.

"Firstly, by Government who control the Police budget and also previous Police management who, with hands loosely tied, must take some responsibility for the overall situation,'' Sgt. Thornton said.

He added: "Sgt. Beech, who is English, is married and is the father of two young children, and although eligible for retirement last year he chose to stay on and serve the community and endow his lengthy Police experience on his younger colleagues.

"The Police Association is aware that its members must face violence of this nature, although it is not included in the job description, and urges both Government and Police management to ensure the correct resources are in place to prevent the possibility of the violent death of an officer working in the execution of his duty.

"We strongly advocate the deployment of adequate safety equipment, and the extendible batons, currently in use in the UK. We further rely on the courts of Bermuda to mete out punishment which will seriously deter those who would respond to working Police officers with wanton acts of violence.'' Community and Media Relations spokesperson P.c. Gary Venning said the policy regarding handcuffing is that the decision of whether or not to use handcuffs is at the discretion of the individual arresting officer.

"The policy refers to females and juveniles where it suggests that they only be used where absolutely necessary. Handcuffs should be used in cases concerning violent behaviour,'' P.c. Venning said.

In a statement Mr. Coxall said an extensive inquiry is being conducted into this "most serious assault on Sgt. Beech''.

Any witnesses to the stabbing incident, or anyone who witnessed any part of the case is asked to contact the Incident Room at Prospect at 299-4315 or 295-0011.

And anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-623-8477.