Police appear set to remain the boys in blue, since there are no plans to actively recruit more women into the Service.

However, women seem to be making inroads into the male-dominated force.

Suzette Edmead, human resource manager for the Commissioner of Police, said that admission into the Service was based on merit and not gender.

"The last graduating class was 50 percent female and the new class will be the same,'' she explained.

The Task Force on the Status of Women recently stated that although women made up 53 percent of the population, only 19 percent of the full-time officers were women.

The final report of the Task Force on Women's Issues recently brought to light issues affecting women.

The Task Force was established in December, 1995 to review the status of women in Bermuda. They were also charged with recommending legislation, policy initiatives and programmes after their assessment.

Among the 190 recommendations, the Task Force suggested establishing an Equal Opportunity Commission through an Equal Opportunity Act.

Ms Edmead said that lack of interest and an old quota system contributed to the low number of women in the force.

"Women were only admitted to the Police Service in 1961,'' she pointed out.

"And there have been other factors such as the lack of interest in Police work from women and a quota system that was only waived under the new Commissioner.'' And she said other factors -- including shift work -- might discourage women from joining the Police Service.

The physical fitness test -- which is a prerequisite to the recruitment -- also might be a factor in turning potential candidates away.

"More women than men fail this test, although the test is adjusted for women,'' Ms Edmead added. "Women are often turned off by the enforcement side of policing.'' Once in the fold, Ms Edmead said that there were certain departments that female officers were placed in.

"More female officers are concentrated in community and juvenile services and beat duties in each division,'' she said. "Women generally, but not exclusively, can bring skills related to the caring, compassionate aspects of policing. Women have more interest in issues related to children and community policing.'' The Task Force also noted that only one women has emerged above the rank of Inspector with the appointment of Ch. Insp. Gertrude Barker last summer.

A table in the report also showed that there were only two female inspectors compared to 21 male inspectors, and four female sergeants compared to 71 male sergeants.

"Previous to the new Commissioner, there was an informal, unwritten policy that the most senior female officer would be an inspector,'' Ms Edmead explained.

Ch. Insp. Gertrude Barker