The Bermuda Police Service is looking to establish a hi-tech link-up with a top US crime laboratory, Police Commissioner Colin Coxall revealed recently.

He told The Royal Gazette : "We will hopefully be entering an arrangement with the New York State Crime Laboratory which is one of the finest forensic laboratories in the world.

"This will provide the Bermuda Police Service with the forensic science support we need for the investigation of serious crimes.'' Mr. Coxall said he was "quite excited'' about the prospect of linking up with the $34 million facility which he recently visited.

He added that there was a definite need for the facilities the top quality crime laboratory offered and the expertise of its forensic pathologists.

And Mr. Coxall noted that the new forensic science department's ongoing costs were paid for by drug profit confiscations.

Government is drawing up a Proceeds of Crime Bill allowing Police to confiscate drug dealers' assets such as cash, cars and even houses.

It aims to deal with money laundering as well as the confiscation of drug profits and will give Police power to confiscate anything belonging to a drug dealer that was bought through profits from drugs.

Earlier, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said the Bill was not finalised yet and people both in Bermuda and overseas who could be affected were still being consulted.

It went beyond the aspects of money laundering and confiscation of drug profits, he noted, as it also concerned other countries and financial institutions.

He said he remained hopeful that a draft of the Bill could be put down before the House of Assembly adjourned from this session but added a piece of legislation of its magnitude could not be rushed.

"It is taking longer than we wanted it to take,'' said Mr. Edness, "but we want to get it right.

"It is occupying all my time, both day and night,'' he added.

Colin Coxall HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA