The Police have had their budget increased by ten percent by Finance Minister Paula Cox who said Bermuda had witnessed a "period of lawlessness never witnessed before".

The financial allotment for the Police Service is provided for under the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing's budget, which at $155.1 million for 2009-2009 makes it the biggest spending Ministry. The Police budget now stands at $62.8 million.

Addressing the House of Assembly on the issue of recent criminal behaviour, Mrs. Cox said: "The Government has strongly supported measures to stem this tide of violence on our streets through a higher police presence and proactive policing.

"Police manning levels will be increased through a number of initiatives including recruitment both locally and overseas." Mrs. Cox spoke of a short-term solution to address understaffed levels in the ranks.

"In order to maintain current operational levels of policing – short term outside assistance is also being contemplated in consultation with Government House."

Reacting to the budget increase last night, Police spokesman Robin Simmons said: "Any increase to the Police budget is welcomed by the Bermuda Police Service."

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing Sen. David Burch said he would look to increase the numbers in the Police force and expand the role of the Regiment in dealing with law and order.

He pledged he would continue working with the Governor and Commissioner. On crime, he said: "There were some concerns that the crackdown would peter out. It hasn't; it won't."

The Police Service has a major project underway in connection with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act PACE. The PACE project began in early 2006.

According to Government, significant progress has been made in identifying systems and custody processes relating to the project.

Additionally, the Police will focus on the following key areas moving forward:

• engaging the community and improving its confidence in the Police;

• strengthening the intelligence services to improve analytical ability;

• enhancing systems to improve recruiting, standards and working conditions;

• an IT infrastructure upgrade and pursuing professional accreditation with the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Meanwhile, more than $5 million has been invested in the implementation of a new wireless IT system for the Department of Immigration, originally thought of in 2004.

It will allow access by Immigration inspectors to information and photographs of suspected illegal foreigners, the imaging of all files in the Department, automated alerts and data to and from other Government departments.

The system will also allow access to information on students and the general public about opportunities for jobs that are currently held by work permit holders, biometric identification including facial recognition. An additional $1.7 million has been budgeted for the upcoming financial year.

The implementation of a new Border Management system as part of this process will be implemented this year.

It will see the provision of electronic manifests and the elimination of the Immigration Passenger Form for travelling Bermudians.

The budget statement revealed that Government's National Drug Control Master Plan will be implemented in the 2008/2009 period. The scheme will give equal weight to reducing the demand and supply of drugs.

Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler said the five-year plan, which had been two years in the making, would bring together all the agencies including Police, customs and the department of National Drug Control in one coordinated effort.

Its focus will be to deliver treatment to clients in need of substance abuse counselling, with the courts being empowered to mandate drug treatment as a component of a sentence.

Funding in the amount of $2 million is provided for the implementation of the plan through 2008/2009.

The Ministry of Justice will receive a boost in staffing levels, as Government plans to add six positions to the payroll.

In the Attorney General's Chambers there will be a Deputy Solicitor General, Senior Crown Counsel and a Deputy Parliamentary Counsel.

A Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions position will be added within the Department of Public Prosecutions. In total, the new positions will come at a cost of $717,000 annually, to the public purse.

Attorney General Sen. Kim Wilson spoke of five key initiatives supported by the 2008/2009 fiscal year. They include the continuation of a pilot programme to ensure that Bermudian Counsel are trained to enter leadership positions in the justice system.

Also included are the continued professional training of professional staff, the implementation of a new and modern legislative information management system and the design and installation of a criminal justice information IT system to ensure more accurate procedures, records and information management.