Bermuda Police Service said yesterday it does have designated facilities available for tape recording interviews with subjects.

Police were responding to comments former Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser that taping interviews would go along way to eliminating claims of Police fabricating statements ? or portions of statements ? from suspects and witnesses.

The subject arose during the trial of Karim Salahuddin who claimed the Police had fabricated his statements and that his former lawyer, Larry Scott, had not given him proper legal advice.

There was no taped record of the interview available to the court, a subject which was raised by both defence lawyer John Perry, QC, and Senior Prosecutor Mr. Ratneser.

The Royal Gazette was told on Wednesday that tape facilities were being reviewed by the Bermuda Police Service by Police media spokesman Robin Simmons.

He said: ?The tape recording of interviews is already in legislation and the Bermuda Police Service is continuing to implement the tape recording of interviews as our facilities are upgraded in order to install the necessary equipment.?

However, the Police said yesterday there are facilities available for tape-recording in the Commercial Crime Unit, Narcotics Department, Serious Crime Unit, Somerset Police Station and the Bermuda International Airport Police station.

?Staff at these establishments are trained and required to audiotape interviews with suspects,? said a Police statement.

?Renovations of three rooms at the Hamilton Police station commenced this week and, it is anticipated, that three suitable interview rooms for audio-taping of suspects will be available some time in the near future. Training arrangements for the staff at the Hamilton Police Station and other members of the Service are currently being finalised.?

It is anticipated that training will commence in mid-December or January 2005 said the statement.

The final phase of implementing tape recording, according to the Police, will be to establish designated facilities at the Southside Station and the St. George?s Police station once renovations are completed there.

?The legislation envisaged that a phased in approach would be required as the Service needed to have physical plant issues addressed along with having the suitable acquisition of suitable equipment and completion of approved training for the officers,? said the statement.

Police said they are committed to moving down the path towards the designation of all available facilities.