The Chief Justice has called for members of the legal profession to be vigilant against any attempt to erode the independence of the prosecutor.

Richard Ground, OBE, QC, told a Department of Public Prosecutions conference at Elbow Beach on Friday: "We need to be constantly vigilant."

Mr. Justice Ground's comments followed two lectures on Thursday, in which Directors of Public Prosecutions of other jurisdictions spoke of the importance of remaining impartial to outside interests and pressures, political or otherwise.

James Hamilton QC, Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions, talked about 'The Main Principles of the Prosecutor's Independence', while Geoffrey Henderson, Director of Public Prosecutions for Trinidad and Tobago, spoke on 'Political Independence of the Prosecutor'.

Yesterday, Mr. Justice Ground said: "I was particularly struck by the contribution yesterday afternoon on the independence of the Prosecutor.

"That is something that we share — the judiciary and the prosecutors: our independence.

"It is vitally important. It's not something to take lightly or for granted. It's something which is a gift for all of us, and it's terribly easily erosible.

"It can be whittled away by the most unexpected or unintentional things, and we all have to be on our guard against this."

Bermuda's Director of Public Prosecutions, Rory Field, also called for the implementation of television video links from other jurisdictions, so that witnesses could give evidence in court without fear of intimidation.

In Bermuda, the small size of the Island has at times restricted Police and DPP efforts to bring criminals to justice, due to the reluctance of witnesses fearful of retaliation.

Mr. Field said yesterday: "One possible outcome from this conference could be consideration of the legislation, training and equipment which would be needed to allow experts to give evidence from overseas, with links directly into the trial court.

"I would like the conference to consider whether this would be possible here in Bermuda.

"It could also be used as part of witness protection, in the protection of children and other vulnerable persons, so that their evidence could be given from a safe place directly away from the court room."

The two-day DPP conference 'Prosecution Challenges, Innovative Solutions' has brought together experts from the Caribbean, US, Canada and Ireland to discuss issues of money laundering, prosecutorial independence and forensic evidence with Bermuda's prosecuting fraternity.

Delegates have included members of the Judiciary, the Bermuda Bar, Bermuda Police Service, and representatives from Customs, the Bermuda Monetary Authority, the new Financial Intelligence Agency, as well as professionals in the arena of Health.

Mr. Field said the aim of the conference was "to build cooperation and coordination between those agencies tasked with the fight against crime".