Government will spend at least $2 million less on Policing this year, according to figures in yesterday's Budget.

The amount allocated to Bermuda Police Service has dropped from $62.8 million last year to $60.5 million for 2009/10, with reductions in spending on training, serious crime, road policing and intelligence, among other areas.

Public Safety Minister David Burch did not comment on the cuts in his post-Budget statement and did not respond to questions yesterday.

Finance Minister Paula Cox also made no reference to the reduction in spending in her Budget statement to the House of Assembly.

A detailed breakdown in the 2009/10 Budget shows that Government expects to spend $42.3 million on Police salaries, or almost 70 percent of the total Police budget. This compares to last year's figure of $45.1 million.

Yesterday, it was unclear how the six percent reduction in spending on salaries could be made, since Police recently won a five percent pay rise.

The number of personnel in Bermuda Police Service is given in the Budget as 613 for both last year and the coming year.

The policing budget allocates $5.2 million this year to "other personnel costs"; last year the figure was $4.3 million.

One source said: "It is baffling. It seems to make no sense, since compared to last year's Budget it should be significantly more, based on simple mathematics."

Governor Sir Richard Gozney would not comment on the Policing budget cut but said of the amount allocated for pay: "I am confident that the Government of Bermuda will pay all members of the Bermuda Police Service at the pay rates which were recently agreed."

The spending breakdown shows that $3.1 million will be spent on Police training in 2009/10, compared to $4.1 million allocated last year. The central area command will get $10.3 million – a million less than the year before.

The Island's serious crime unit is set to get $1.5 million in 2009/10, compared to the $2.3 million budgeted for last year.

There will be increased spending on human resources ($2.6 million compared to last year's $1.3 million), narcotics (up to $1.7 million from $1.3 million) and "professional services" ($1.7 million as opposed to $1 million in 2008/9).

Figures released on Tuesday showed that crime went up for the fourth successive year in 2008, with nearly 3,000 offences recorded – the highest figure since 2002. Last year saw 17 road fatalities – the worst rate in a decade.

Policing falls within the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, which was allocated a total of $137.5 million in yesterday's Budget, compared to $137.2 million in 2008/9.

Senator Burch said the funds would be used wisely, particularly in providing affordable rental units and helping families become home owners. He said the Department of Labour and Training would extend its opening hours, a one-stop career centre would be implemented there and the student summer employment programme would be extended.

This year will see the first interest-free loans from the Bermuda Housing Corporation dished out to qualified Bermudians wanting to become first-time home owners.

Sen. Burch said the Department of Immigration would implement a new application processing system and upgrade its website to include some online applications.

"Notwithstanding the current global economic conditions, I am confident that the Ministry can fulfil its primary mandates, meet the public's expectations and implement Government's election platform with the allocation provided," he said.